Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday called for the reconstitution of the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation (SRDC) to support the beautification and planned redevelopment of Old Delhi.

Chairing a meeting at the Delhi Secretariat, Ms Gupta acknowledged the deteriorating condition of Old Delhi, including the historic Chandni Chowk market, and said her government is fully committed to restoring the area’s traditional character.

She noted that development in Chandni Chowk has long been hampered because the locality falls under the jurisdiction of three different agencies, leading to repeated delays. “The SRDC will be reconstituted soon, and development work in the Walled City will be undertaken through the revamped corporation, which will include qualified heritage conservation experts,” she said.

Chandni Chowk MP Praveen Khandelwal, who also attended the meeting, echoed the demand for restructuring the SRDC.

The meeting discussed restricting certain commercial activities to preserve the heritage value of the Chandni Chowk market.

The SRDC, a special-purpose vehicle created in 2008 under former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, was originally mandated to conserve built and natural heritage.

Ms Gupta also visited a stretch of the Najafgarh drain in Paschim Vihar and directed officials to remove waste and construct a boundary wall along the drain. Cleaning the Najafgarh drain is part of wider efforts to rejuvenate the river Yamuna.

The Chief Minister reviewed ongoing development works at RBI Colony, Outer Ring Road, Meera Bagh, Sonia Camp and Paschim Puri, and instructed officials to ensure timely completion with high-quality standards. She further called for developing green belts in the area to improve environmental conditions and enhance its aesthetic appeal.