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History comes full circle at Gole Market as NDMC finalises plansfor 3D museum

By Mansi Tewari

Published: 21:53 GMT, 13 May 2014 | Updated: 00:12 GMT, 14 May 2014

The iconic Gole Market - one of the oldest colonial markets in New Delhi - is all set to get a much-needed facelift.

The market, which is close to the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the city's commercial centre Connaught Place, will now be converted into a 3D museum thatwill shed light on the National Capital's history.

"The project commissioned by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) envisages a holistic conservation of the historic market.

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The New Delhi Municipal Council's Heritage Committee has approved a plan to turn Gole Market into an all-night dining and entertainment zone

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A NIGHT COMPLEX IN THE MAKING FOR DELHIITES

The not-so-known Shaheed Bhagat Singh Market near Gole Market will now be on the Delhi map as a popular shopping destination and a night market,if all goes the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) way.

Along with Gole Market, the civic body has chalked out a complete redevelopment plan for the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Market and the surrounding area.

The two-storey building will be raised down to bring up a posh 10-storey shopping complex and the street side vendors in the Gole market will be movedto the market.

"Based on the lines of night market in countries like Singapore, we came up with an open-till-late night-plan for Connaught Place and now we havedecided to keep the refurbished Shaheed Bhagat Singh Market open for public till late," said NDMC chairman Jalaj Srivastava.

The idea is to give the the bazaaris, who have encroached upon the pavements, a better place with favourable conditions to work, the chairman added.

Unable to churn out good revenue from the complex which is underutilised and is mostly occupied by different NDMC departments, the body feels thatrestoring the two storey market will also bring in more profits. In order to increase the footfall of the market, the civic body is mulling to offers some theentertainment to the people.

"We will have an amphitheatre where live shows, exhibitions and theatre performances will be held near the vacant land in the market area," he said.

The NDMC seems to have everything sorted out and it can be gauged from the fact that keeping in mind the increase in visitors to the nearby Gole

Market and the new shopping complex, the officials have firmed up to make an underground parking lot in their plan which will have a parking capacity

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"The idea is to convert the building into a resource centre and a museum that will have paintings and artifacts from the time the Capital was being built,"said Abha Narain Lamba, the consultant architect for Gole Market. The octagonal market, which was built within a traffic roundabout by Edwin Lutyens,is an architecturally significant structure.

"To restore the features of the building, we have pulled out old building plans. Now, it is proposed to expand our project from Gole Market to nearbylandmarks. We will also build a cultural hub, parking spaces and a night market to benefit tourists and residents," Lamba said.

NDMC Chairman Jalaj Shrivastava said the market would be renovated on the lines of Singapore's Merlion Towers.

"The 3D museum will be a visual treat for visitors. We want to take people back to Lutyens' era and show them exactly how Delhi was built. The museumwill chronicle important events that took place in Lutyens' Delhi since its beginning and display rare items such as layouts prepared by Britisharchitects,"he said.

However, there is an awful flip side to the plan. As many as 28 shops, including confectioneries, sweet shops, fast food restaurants and meat shops,were evacuated to execute the civic body's plan.

Reacting to the NDMC's move, the Gole Market Association alleged that the civic body had betrayed the shop owners by not rehabilitating themproperly.

"Turning the market into a museum at the cost of our livelihood is wrong. They (NDMC) have not rehabilitated the shopkeepers till date and the civicbody is not bothered to help us out," said Narayan Shamnani, president of the Gole Market Association.

Anupam Dhir, owner of Galina Bar Be Que - one of the oldest restaurant in Delhi - has shut shop ever since the traders were evicted from Gole Market.

"We will have to pay more than Rs 1 lakh a month as rent for the new place we have been offered, which is way over our budget. Also, in markets likePalika Bazaar, selling food items or opening a restaurant is not allowed," he said.

He also claimed that as per rules the heritage building cannot alter its original usage. "We will go to court to fight for our rights,' he added.

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