Delhi govt fails to hold meeting for Jama Masjid’s redevelopment plans

New Delhi: The Delhi government has yet again failed to hold consultations with the stakeholders for the redevelopment plan of surroundings of the Mughal era’s Jama Masjid.

The proposal is again stalled after the central district failed to hold a single meeting with the agencies and stakeholders, shopkeepers of Meena Bazar and other traders surrounding the Jama Masjid, HT reported.

“There has been no development in the matter for months,” the official said.

Noted Architect Pradeep Sachdeva has prepared two plans for the Jama Masjid which was asked by the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation (SRDC) in November. This corporation was entrusted with the responsibility of remodeling the area which further forwarded the plansthe architects and their plans to the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) and was done after Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Anil Baijal issued directions to start the project.

But the designs submitted by SRDC’s says the market should not be moved.

In response to different plans submitted to the SPA, the SPA has suggested assessment of the impact of this project on the people living in the vicinity and traders doing their business around the masjid.

“The project will take time to reach a consensus after consultations with all parties likely to be affected by the relocation of Meena Bazaar. An initial meeting was held but the matter requires more deliberation,” an official said.

Chandni Chowk MLA Alka Lamba blames the officials for delaying the project. He is also the director of SRDC Board.

“Unwanted people have been made stakeholders. They have nothing to do with the project. In fact, officials are misleading the court. Unless the SRDC is transformed into an independent civic body and given powers of a municipal corporation, no plan will be successful,” Lamba said.