Meharchand Market

Last updated

Meharchand Market
Neighbourhood
Location map India Delhi EN.svg
Red pog.svg
Meharchand Market
Location in Delhi
Coordinates: 28°35′5″N77°13′34″E / 28.58472°N 77.22611°E / 28.58472; 77.22611
County India
State Delhi
Founded by Mehr Chand Khanna
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
110003

Meharchand Market (or Mehar Chand) is a retail hub in Lodhi Colony, South Delhi. [1] [2] The market is a shopping hub known for its designer stores, cafes, and street art. [3] Meharchand Market was established in 1948 as a refugee market and was renamed in 1962 after the then-Union Minister Mehr Chand Khanna. [4] In 2018, illegal constructions by shopkeepers led to shop closures. [5] This eventually resulted in a 2020 redevelopment plan that allows multi-story structures. [6] By 2022, sealed shops began reopening and redevelopment is still ongoing as of 2024. [7] [8]

Contents

History

Meharchand Market was initially established in 1948 as a refugee market, when 240 makeshift shops were allocated to refugees who had fled Pakistan after the partition of India in 1947. [1] [4] In 1962, the market was renamed as Meharchand Market after the then-Union Minister for Rehabilitation, Mehr Chand Khanna. [4] After its establishment and renaming, Meharchand Market became known for its tailoring shops and tent houses. [9] [10] By the mid 2010s, Meharchand Market was known as an upscale and trendy shopping area. [11] [12]

However, by 2018, many of the markets' shops were sealed by a Supreme Court-appointed committee as shopkeepers had illegally built more space for their shops, leaving only the ground floors compliant with the market's original plan. [6] In 2020, a redevelopment scheme for Meharchand Market was approved by the then-South Delhi Municipal Corporation, which would allow a 90% ground coverage with a 350 floor area ratio. [6] This would allow shopkeeper build a basement, ground, first and second floors. [6] In 2022, the sealed shops began to be unsealed by the Municipal Council of Delhi after approval from the Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee. [7] As of 2024, the redevelopment Maherchand Market is still ongoing. [8]

Overview

Meharchand Market is noted as a shopping hub. [3] [13] Shops in the market include designer stores, cafes, jewellery shops and salons. [9] [10] [3] The market has also become known for its street art and murals. [14]

Location

Meharchand Market is located in Lodhi Colony and on the on the edge of Lutyens' Delhi. [1] [15] The market comes under the area of South Delhi. [16]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Sharma, Manoj (17 August 2020). "The making, unmaking and remaking of Mehar Chand Market". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  2. ↑ "Department of Food and Public Distribution to participate in 811 events on Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign on October 1st". Government of India: Press Information Bureau. 30 September 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 Mishra, Ashish (11 August 2020). "Meharchand Market to soon be redeveloped with 'uniform look'". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 Singh, Paras (22 February 2024). "Revamp gathers pace to create a modern Meharchand Market". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  5. ↑ Nayeemi, Zaid (5 July 2022). "De-sealing of shops at Meherchand market in Delhi begins after four years". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Rajput, Abhinav (12 August 2020). "Hit by sealing, Delhi's iconic Meher Chand market will be rebuilt from ground up". The Indian Express. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  7. 1 2 Sharma, Vibha (6 July 2022). "27 Meharchand Market shops de-sealed in Delhi, more to follow". The Times of India. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  8. 1 2 Sharma, Vibha (22 February 2024). "A renewed shopping experience at Delhi's Meharchand Market in 18 months". The Times of India. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  9. 1 2 Lakhani, Somya (7 June 2019). "Street wise: Behind names of Khanna and Meherchand markets, a minister brought to India by Nehru". The Indian Express. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  10. 1 2 "Delhi: Demolition drives continue, Meherchand market is spared". The Indian Express. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  11. ↑ Vora, Shivani (31 January 2014). "A New Delhi Market for Savvy Shoppers". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  12. ↑ Brennan, Emily (4 September 2014). "Michael Aram on the Artisans of Delhi". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  13. ↑ Sharma, Purnima (30 March 2019). "Delhi's hip & chic shopping agora". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  14. ↑ Kalra, Vandana (3 July 2022). "How artwork gave Lodhi Colony fresh lease of life". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  15. ↑ "Sealed market to get new lease of life". The Hindu. 12 August 2020. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  16. ↑ "South Delhi Municipal Corporation seals 135 shops in Meharchand Market". Scroll.in. 11 January 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.