Posh markets all set for makeover

Facelift for Khan Market, Gole Market

The New Delhi Municipal Council is likely to revamp Gole Market and Khan Market soon. The council meeting on Wednesday approved the appointment of an architect consultant to restore these two markets. 

“Gole Market and its near-by areas will be a highly value-added zone after the revamping is complete. The market will have a museum which will be a delight to visitors,” said Jalaj Shrivastava, chairperson of NDMC.

The 3-D museum, which is likely to recreate the history of Lutyens’ Delhi, will include yesteryear photographs and artefacts. The museum, however, is only a part of the rehabilitation plan.

“Conserving the architecture of Gole Market and its central courtyard is first on the cards. The rehabilitation of the project will be carried out in two parts. Implementation of signages, restoration of the steel furniture and the facade will be completed in the first phase. The architect will be working on the design and other specifications in the second phase,” said an  official. 

“The council wants to make Gole Market and the near-by markets a cultural hub for tourists. Visitors will be treated to visual display at the 3-D museum,” he added.To attract foreign tourists, the council has also planned to turn Shaheed Bhagat Singh Market into a night bazaar. 

“A 10-storey building will be built in place of the current one. The nightbazaar will ensure that vendors are organisedly housed under this structure and there are no encroachments,” said the official.The multi-storey night bazaar is likely to be built on the lines of Mustafa Centre, one of the 24x7 shopping malls in Singapore.

The other major market which will undergo redevelopment is Khan Market. Prithviraj Market, situated near-by, will also be revamped.    

The highlights of redeveloping Khan Market include revival of buildings, doing away with surface parking and providing underground parking, build walkways and enhancing traffic circulation.