World Heritage City status still a dream for Delhi

“We had signed a MoU with the Delhi government to flesh out eight heritage routes across the city last August and if the heritage structures and precincts get connected through the Heritage Circuit we will be a step closer to the World Heritage City status,” said AGK Menon,convenor of Delhi chapter,INTACH. 

With the World Monument Fund sponsoring the detailed documentation of the project,the plan details and maps are ready. However,their implementation has been difficult as the routes fall under various civic bodies like Delhi Development Authority,Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Public Works Department.

“The good news is that the state government is now taking the Heritage Circuit seriously and has been holding meetings with the civic bodies. We are also going to begin work on one heritage route which runs from the Delhi Gate to Kotla Feroze Shah as the pilot project,” Menon told the Newsline.

KN Srivastav,Director General,ASI,said: “The Heritage Circuit plan will give the entire city a cognitive heritage look and we are in full support.”

However,he feels World Heritage City status is a distant dream. “New areas are added to the city’s geographical territory making it difficult to preserve a holistic heritage look,” he said.