How heritage Connaught Place losing its sheen to neglect

NEW DELHI: There’s a certain prestige attached to owning a shop in Connaught Place. After all, it is a heritage area, redolent of British days. However, the importance given to fire safety and structural stability — or the lack of it — by both the owners and the civic authorities has put the shopping arcade under a cloud.
When TOI visited Connaught Place on Tuesday, it didn’t take long to establish that the rooftops of the over 80-year-old structures were bearing the burden of water tanks, diesel generator sets, air-conditioning plants, mobile towers, illegal servant quarters and, of course, restaurants.They also serve as stores for construction materials, damaged furniture and other detritus of commercial life. Below them, there were wires dangling across the back lanes, damaged water pipes and trees taking root in the cracks of the walls.

“More than age, abuse and neglect have weakened the buildings rapidly,” noted Ruchin Garg, a shop owner. “This hasn’t changed though the New Delhi Municipal Council conducted a detailed survey on the structural safety of buildings in 2017 after two collapses. Demolitions were ordered against 17 buildings, but these are pending.”
Garg was referring to the roof giving way at C Block, followed a few days later by the wall of Unplugged Courtyard Restaurant collapsing in L Block. NDMC had formed 15 teams to survey the stability of the old buildings in 13 blocks, especially the rooftops, and to check for illegal constructions and installation of generator sets.
An NDMC official said, “The inspectors issued notices to owners of 114 unstable buildings and asked them to obtain safety and structural certificates within two weeks. While 102 buildings complied, 12 are yet to submit. They probably closed down or have not opened for a long time.” He added that in 2018 too, the inspectors confiscated 11 generators, demolished portions of 31 shops and sealed 29 others.
And yet, despite these steps, there is no tangible improvement, so much so that the portion that collapsed at C Block remains jaggedly raw. “We asked NDMC to arrange for the building’s restoration, but nothing happened,” claimed the building owner. Atul Bhargava, president, New Delhi Market Association, was only glad that the tenant of the building took care to shutter up the place with corrugated sheeting.
Bhargava also voiced the complaint of most shop owners in CP. “Besides curbing illegal constructions, the authorities should also simplify process for repairing the inner structures,” he said. Others agreed that the rules meant to safeguard the area’s heritage character had become a hurdle in its upkeep. As Garg alleged, “No heritage building can be repaired or renovated without the permission of the Heritage Conservation Committee. Many owners have applied to HCC but not got permissions even as their buildings are deteriorating by the day.”
Garg requested details under the Right to Information on why NDMC had not repaired the damaged buildings in C and L blocks. The reply said it was the responsibility of the owners. But, argued Garg, “The owners cannot do anything without HCC’s permission, which is hard to get. In the given circumstances, it is impossible to fulfil all safety and structural norms.”
On its part, there has been no delay in granting permission for repairs, claimed Vertika Sharma, HCC member. “In fact we have meetings every 15 days to resolve such matters. If there are discrepancies in the owners’ proposals, we inform NDMC immediately,” she said.
An NDMC official assured that the civic body was making all efforts to enhance the market’s condition. “In fact,” he added, “after the Karol Bagh hotel fire incident, the NDMC chairman has directed officials to prepare a checklist for fire safety measures to be implemented in CP and Khan Market. The shop owners will be required to ensure that their buildings are safe for the public.”