Archive · 15 Aug 2026
Delhi's heritage buildings could become hotels, offices under draft plan
A big city plan for Delhi is thinking about old, historic buildings.
Some of these buildings are very special and old.
The plan says owners who keep them safe can get a special reward.
This reward lets them build more on their property, which helps them earn money.
With the reward, old buildings could become hotels, offices, museums, or libraries.
But the buildings must keep their old look and history.
Special places like Chandni Chowk and Lutyens' Delhi are named heritage zones.
The plan also wants to move some polluting factories out of the old city.
It wants streets to be easier to walk in.
This way, old buildings can be saved and used again.
The draft Master Plan for Delhi (MPD)-2047 proposes incentives for owners to preserve heritage buildings while allowing adaptive reuse as hotels, offices, museums, libraries and cultural spaces.
Heritage properties would receive an incentive Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 50, awarded through Transferable Development Rights (TDR) certificates after required repairs and certification.
Chandni Chowk in the Walled City, Lutyens' Bungalow Zone and the Civil Lines Bungalow Area are identified as the three heritage zones in the plan.
The plan seeks to remove polluting industries from the Walled City and promote it as a cultural destination with an "active 24×7 economy".
Walkable streets, zero tolerance for encroachment, the setting up of heritage cells and a Heritage Fund are also proposed to support conservation.
- Who
- Owners of heritage buildings in Delhi and the authorities behind the draft Master Plan for Delhi (MPD)-2047.
- What
- A plan proposing incentives for preserving heritage buildings by allowing their adaptive reuse as hotels, offices, museums, libraries and cultural spaces.
- When
- Not specified in the articles; the plan is in draft form.
- Where
- Delhi, including Chandni Chowk in the Walled City (Shahjahanabad), Lutyens' Delhi and Civil Lines.
- Why
- To make preservation financially worthwhile for owners through incentive FAR and TDR certificates while protecting the architectural and historical character of heritage buildings.
- Plan
- Draft Master Plan for Delhi (MPD)-2047
- Incentive FAR for heritage properties
- 50
- Incentive mechanism
- Transferable Development Rights (TDR) certificates
- Heritage zones
- Chandni Chowk (Walled City), Lutyens' Bungalow Zone, Civil Lines Bungalow Area
- Archaeological parks listed
- Mehrauli, Tughlaqabad Biodiversity Park, Sultan Garhi, Indraprastha, Northern Ridge
- Proposed new uses
- Hotels, offices, museums, libraries, craft centres, performance spaces
- Walled City measures
- Removal of polluting industries; discouraging godowns and wholesale activity
- Proposed support bodies
- Heritage cells and a Heritage Fund