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]

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 orginal 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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b c Mishra, Ashish (11 August 2020). "Meharchand Market to soon be redeveloped with 'uniform look'". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  4. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b "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.
Allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meharchand_Market
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