The redevelopment of Shahjahanabad has been an ongoing topic of discussion for over a decade now. Among these, the redevelopment of the MCD Haveli to a museum, which was proposed in 2008, has been pending since long, but will now see the day of light as the civil department has finally floated a tender to choose a consultant for the project. The passing on the tender will help revive and redevelop a museum-cum-interpretation centre on Shahjehanabad in Lahori Gate area in Old Delhi, civic officials said Sunday.
"We have floated a tender for choosing a consultant for the project. It was done a few days ago. The museum-cum-interpretation centre project will seek to revive and redevelop the old one, with additional features, library and digital technology-driven exhibits," said senior NDMC official.
The funds of Rs 3.32 crores for the project were received last March by the NDMC.
"The Shahjahanabad Museum seeks to bring to life for the visitor, the story of the city in all these varied aspects," says Ajay Kumar, Director of Projects, INTACH, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage. "It will simultaneously serve to showcase stories from the past, as well as to serve as an interpretation centre for the city as it exists today," he adds further.
As per the officials, the new Shahjahanabad museum will help visitors understand the history and development of this old and bustling city. The museum will act as an interpretation centre for the living heritage spaces like Gali, Kuncha, and Katra. Both the museum and the Interpretation centre will introduce visitors to local craft and art traditions and connect them to living practitioners, thus acting as a catalyst for the revival and promotion of these traditions.
Surrounded with Khari Baoli, the spice market, on the right; Sadar Bazaar, the wholesale market, to its left and the Old Delhi railway station straight ahead, the MCD Haveli for the museum, was constructed in 1929 and has a distinctive façade with a verandah and chhatris. There was a dispensary in the haveli earlier, which later became a dumpyard for the spice merchants. A museum was opened here by Chandni Chowk MP Vijay Goel in 2003, but it is now unused and in a dilapidated condition.
The museum will have samples of old artifacts, craft works, utensils etc, along with archival images, heritage databases, and film clips. The haveli will also have refreshment centre for visitors, who otherwise look for such spaces in the old city. The haveli has two floors and in the plan provided by INTACH, the ground floor will have the Shahjahanabad gallery, history of Delhi through the display panel, community culture of Shahajahanabad and a Dioroma. The first floor, on the other hand, will show the trade culture of Chandni Chowk and trade theme based Dioromas.
WHAT IT WILL OFFER
The new Shahjahanabad museum will help visitors understand the history and development of this old and bustling city. The museum will act as an interpretation centre for the living heritage spaces like Gali, Kuncha, and Katra. Both the museum and the Interpretation centre will introduce visitors to local craft
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