By Subhash Chandra Agrawal | Special to News365 Times
Delhi’s iconic Chandni Chowk, once envisioned as a shining example of heritage beautification and pedestrian-friendly redevelopment, has rapidly degenerated into a chaotic, unsafe, and inconvenient stretch. What was supposed to be the jewel of Old Delhi’s revival has instead become a hub for law-breakers, encroachers, and disorder, leaving citizens, traders, and tourists deeply frustrated.
Police Booths: A Vital Missing Piece
Earlier, police booths existed on footpaths—including near the Fatehpuri end—but were removed due to objections from a handful of shopkeepers. This single step has emboldened drug addicts, beggars, hawkers, vendors, encroachers, and unauthorized rickshaw operators to freely occupy the redeveloped Central Verge, intended as the crown jewel of Chandni Chowk’s facelift.
Urgently, police booths must be reintroduced—this time on the Central Verge—at key points under the jurisdiction of both Lahori Gate and Kotwali police stations. Suggested locations include Fatehpuri, Ballimaran crossing, and Katra Neel. These booths would restore law and order, provide safety in the bullion-rich Kucha Mahajani and Dariba markets, and reclaim the beauty and utility of this historic stretch.
Encroachment: The Root of Old Delhi’s Suffocation
Encroachments—illegal shops, stalls, and merchandise extensions—are suffocating not only Chandni Chowk but also adjoining markets like Bhagirath Palace, Lajpat Rai Market, Esplanade Road Cycle Market, and Dewan Hall Road.
Bhagirath Palace, once a posh colony, is now a maze of illegal wholesale establishments for electronics, medicines, and surgical goods. Fires that gutted shops there highlight the dangers caused by blocked roads and choked entry points. Even fire brigades cannot penetrate these encroached lanes.
A city-wide demolition drive with JCBs is the only solution. Honest shopkeepers are being punished while unauthorized vendors flourish, eventually converting their carts into permanent shops.
Boom-Barriers: More Obstruction Than Order
Boom-barriers, meant to regulate the No-Traffic Zone, have failed in purpose. Scooters bypass them via footpaths, rickshaws twist underneath them, and pedestrians suffer daily hurdles. In emergencies, these barriers become life-threatening obstacles.
On 24.02.2025, my wife suffered a fractured shoulder, and shifting her to a Daryaganj medical center was severely delayed due to a barrier at Dariba. With heavy fines already deterring vehicles, these barriers are redundant and must be removed immediately.
Other Urgent Reforms Needed
- Remove misplaced stone-pillars: Some pillars block entrances to katras and markets, restricting smooth cart movement. They must be selectively dismantled.
- Extend hand-cart hours: Wholesale markets open late; hand-carts should be allowed until 12 noon to support cloth traders and prevent further exodus.
- Fix waterlogging: Streets and katras adjoining Chandni Chowk flood because the main road is at a higher level and drains are clogged. Sewer and drainage upgrades with DHMA must be prioritized.
- Reopen post offices: Shockingly, all post offices around Chandni Chowk have been shut. Asia’s largest wholesale hub cannot function without postal services. Vacant government buildings like Town Hall or the new Bhai Matidass Chowk utility complex should host postal counters, LIC branches, and insurance offices immediately.
Time for Authorities to Act, Not Showcase
The multi-utility building near Bhai Matidass Chowk, built precisely for public convenience, remains shamefully vacant. Instead of allowing this taxpayer-funded space to rot, MCD must allocate it for banking, postal, and insurance facilities.
Chandni Chowk, a historic artery of Delhi’s soul, cannot be allowed to degenerate into an encroached, unsafe bazaar. Its redevelopment was hailed as a model of heritage conservation, but without police presence, strict encroachment removal, and basic amenities, the project risks going down in history as a colossal failure.
The government must act decisively—not with piecemeal fixes but with a comprehensive enforcement and utility plan—to restore Chandni Chowk’s pride and convenience for the millions who depend on it daily.
