Historical Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi has a street named as Khazanch-Gali having ruins of a grand building of ancient era which was residential palace of treasurer of Mughal Emperor Shahajahan. Even the street is named after Khazanchi which in English means treasurer. Ruins of the grand heritage-building now just having some marble pillars and a pond which earlier used to have fountains speak of the finest architecture of that era, is fast losing its grandness day by day because present owners are not taking care of the building which is now having too many small rented portions.
Central or Delhi government should in larger national interest for upkeeping rich heritage and for tourist attraction acquire the building by compensating the owners, and restore glory of the building to make it a tourist-attraction in the manner it was done for Ghalib-haveli was done. Likewise there are several other grand buildings in Chandni Chowk and its nearby lanes which should be acquired, restored and maintained as major tourist-attraction like a huge grand building popularly named asChhunnamal-ki-haveli. A former Parliamenytaran from Chandni chowk has already done so at his own by purchasing such a grand old building and converting in a popular five-starred hotel after restoration its glory of ancient past.
Such restoration of grand heritage building in Chandni Chowk can coincide with on-going restoration of historical Chandni Chowk to convert is a major vehicle-free tourist-attraction.
MADHU AGRAWAL