From Chandni Chowk to Lutyens’ Delhi, heritage buildings could become hotels, offices
The draft Master Plan for Delhi (MPD)-2047 suggests converting historic buildings in Delhi's heritage zones into hotels, offices, museums, libraries and cultural spaces. This includes the Walled City, Lutyens' Delhi and Civil Lines. Owners of heritage buildings will receive an incentive Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 50, allowing them to build beyond the standard limit while preserving the building's architectural and historical character.
This incentive will be granted through Transferable Development Rights (TDR) certificates, subject to separate regulations. However, owners must undertake necessary repairs and maintenance and obtain relevant certification from the concerned agency. Failure to do so could result in penalties. The plan allows adaptive reuse of heritage buildings, permitting their conversion for commercial, office, hotel or socio-cultural uses, provided the building's heritage significance is preserved.
It also proposes relaxing space standards where necessary for practical adaptive reuse. The MPD-2047 identifies three heritage zones – the Walled City, Lutyens' Bungalow Zone and Civil Lines Bungalow Area. It also lists five archaeological parks that fall within these zones. The plan extends conservation provisions to both protected and unprotected, listed and non-listed heritage buildings, allowing conservation, restoration, repair, reconstruction and adaptive reuse, subject to conditions.
The Walled City is targeted for revitalization through a coordinated, multi-agency initiative. This involves identifying cultural precincts, preparing and implementing conservation and area improvement plans, and removing polluting industries from the area. The plan also seeks to make the Walled City more pedestrian-friendly, with mandatory public plazas, walkable and barrier-free public spaces, and a "zero tolerance" policy for encroachments and unauthorized occupations. A Heritage Fund will be established to support such initiatives.
Written by urgent.news from The Indian Express's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
