Sisodia revives Shahjahanabad redevelopment plan, visits walled city

New Delhi: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia Tuesday visited the walled city to revive the Shahjahanabad redevelopment plan which was cleared in 2007 by the previous government for giving a facelift to old Delhi area but later put on the backburner.

According to a senior official, after a meeting of the board of directors of Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation (SRDC), Sisodia decided to visit the old Delhi area to understand the road blocks in carrying out redevelopment work.

In a series of tweets, Sisodia said, "Not only do we need to develop this area but will have to ensure that historic buildings also remain safe. Encroachment and filth are the major problems of the area."

During his two-hour-long visit to the walled city, the Deputy Chief Minister said he found a lot of scope for work and has asked various departments to check problem areas during different times of the day.

"We don't believe in making a development plan sitting in an air-conditioned room like the previous government. To know the facts, we visit each road, bylanes and market place to take public opinion.

"Today, we carried out an inspection early in the morning and soon we will visit the area during the day and night so that we can understand the issues of Shahjahnabad area properly," he said.

Sisodia also asked the team of officials which visited the site with him to ensure that cultural and historic value of the area is restored and preserved.

Senior officials of various departments along with board of directors of SRDC visited the area with him.

According to officials, Municipal Corporation of Delhi was in 2007 tasked with drafting a redevelopment proposal.

However, the Congress Government led by the then Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit decided to take over the project.

The Shahajanabad Redevelopment Corporation (SRC) was created by the government and the first phase of the plan was inaugurated by the then Chandni Chowk MP Kapil Sibal in 2011.