The proposed Shahjahanabad Museum at a historic haveli near Lahori Gate in Old Delhi has received preliminary approval from Delhi Mayor Pravesh Wahi, clearing the way for a formal agreement between the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA).
The museum is planned as a public heritage project showcasing the history, architecture, food, language, customs and everyday life of Shahjahanabad. Work on developing the museum is expected to begin after the MCD and IGNCA sign the formal agreement.
Under the proposed arrangement, the MCD will provide space in the haveli, while the IGNCA will prepare the gallery design and select the historical objects and other material to be displayed. The project is expected to use historical artefacts, handicrafts, explanatory panels and a digital database, with audio and video used to present the material to visitors.
An MCD senior official, as cited in the report, said the museum would include displays on the Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Town Hall, traditional havelis and temples representing different religions. The project will also document the markets of Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi’s food culture and the lifestyle associated with the historic walled city.
The proposed galleries will cover the Mughal period as well as Shahjahanabad’s language, cuisine and customs. The museum is planned as a ticketed facility. A cafeteria is proposed on the first floor, along with a shop selling souvenirs and food associated with Old Delhi.
The building itself dates to 1929 and was originally used as a private residence. It was later occupied by an MCD dispensary and subsequently used as a storeroom. Parts of the haveli, including its roof, jharokhas and balconies, had suffered damage over time.
The structure was restored using funds provided by former Rajya Sabha member Vijay Goel. With the proposed museum, the restored building is now being considered for a new civic and cultural use rather than remaining an administrative or storage property.
The project places the MCD in charge of making the site available while assigning the IGNCA responsibility for the museum’s curatorial and gallery framework. The next formal step is the agreement between the two institutions, after which work on developing the Shahjahanabad Museum is expected to start.
