Delhi L-G reviews progress on Gole Market restoration

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Tuesday inspected the ongoing conservation and restoration work of the iconic Gole Market, alongside the redevelopment of surrounding areas. “Given that Delhi is prone to earthquakes, steel reinforcements are being added to strengthen the foundation,” officials said.

Vegetation on the courtyard, walls, and roof of the structure has been removed and debris from both floors have been cleared. To safeguard the existing structure, scaffolding has been erected and the removal of old roof sheets has been completed, they added.

Expressing satisfaction, Saxena instructed the agency to work with caution to preserve the original architecture. “The historic structure must be maintained during the restoration process,” he said. The pace of work would accelerate once the foundation reinforcement gets completed, an official said.

Saxena had laid the foundation for Gole Market’s redevelopment in October last year. The market is being transformed into the country’s first museum dedicated to women achievers, celebrating their contribution across art, literature, culture, science, social service, and the independence movement.

“The restoration, costing Rs 21.66 crore, includes retrofitting, rehabilitation and conservation of the 1,407 sq m main building,” the official added.

Meanwhile, Saxena also unveiled the elephant family sculpture at the RML Hospital roundabout in New Delhi today along with Lok Sabha MP Bansuri Swaraj.

“With 35 sculptures installed at around 20 locations, featuring exquisite creations like Buddha, marble lions, polo horse and chariot etc, such structures have begun to provide a new look to roundabouts and intersections in the NDMC area,” Saxena wrote in a post on X.