New Delhi | Special Correspondent: Arun Sharma

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has shelved its ambitious plan to comprehensively redevelop the historic Kamla Market, located opposite the New Delhi Railway Station, citing acute fund constraints and challenges in ensuring long-term maintenance.


Officials said that while Phase I of the project, implemented during 2024–25, focused on repairing the market’s entrance, restoring damaged portions of the façade, revamping the iconic clock tower and upgrading the surrounding area, the more extensive Phase II upgrades have now been dropped.


The second phase had proposed repairs to internal common areas, roof maintenance, improvement of pavements, standardisation of shopfronts and the construction of separate toilet blocks, particularly for women. However, the plan failed to materialise due to the unavailability of funds.


Earlier, the civic body had approached various organisations to mobilise resources through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, but those efforts did not yield results, officials confirmed.


Despite the setback, the MCD said it is proceeding with the construction of a modern toilet facility for women and persons with disabilities after demolishing an old and defunct public convenience. The new facility will be handed over to the market association once completed.


Established in 1951, Kamla Market holds significant historical importance. Shops in the market were originally allotted to refugees who migrated from Pakistan during the Partition, with the objective of providing them sustainable livelihoods. The market was inaugurated by India’s first President Dr Rajendra Prasad and named after Kamala Nehru, the late wife of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.


Over the decades, Kamla Market evolved into a major hub for air coolers and later air conditioners, serving traders from across the city. However, officials acknowledged that lack of regular maintenance, encroachments on roads and common areas, and poor infrastructure have severely affected accessibility.


The roof inside the market is damaged at several places, pavements outside small shops are in poor condition, and stacks of goods placed along walkways restrict pedestrian movement, making navigation difficult for visitors.


While traders have been demanding concrete measures to give the market a new lease of life, the civic body has maintained that sustainable improvement will not be possible unless shopkeepers and visitors cooperate in keeping the area clean and free of encroachments.