Gole Market restoration misses deadline; May 2026 new target

New Delhi: New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has extended the deadline for the Gole Market museum project to May 2026, marking the third extension since the foundation stone was laid in Oct 2022.Officials attributed the current delay to, among other factors, construction disruptions due to pollution-related GRAP restrictions during the winter.
According to NDMC, nearly 40% of the civil work at the museum site, a heritage structure, was completed by Dec-end. However, NDMC did not comment on the current status of the project. A recent site visit by TOI revealed that the pace of the construction remained slow. Simultaneously, NDMC is also carrying out the excavation work for the proposed subway in the area. This work also faced delays and the construction could begin only last Sept after getting traffic-related approvals. The subway will provide safe access to the museum at the traffic roundabout, connecting Bhai Veer Singh Marg with the complex. It will be equipped with lifts at entry and exit points for persons with disabilities.The restoration of Gole Market, a heritage structure, has been pending since 2006. After a visit by lieutenant governor VK Saxena, an updated proposal was placed before the council in Aug 2022. The conservation and restoration work began in Oct 2023, with an initial deadline of Oct 2025. It was later revised to March 2026. The total cost of the project, including the subway, is estimated to be Rs 21.7 crore.The heritage complex, built in 1921, has to be transformed into a museum without altering its original architectural character. The museum will highlight the contributions of women achievers to the nation. "It will be the country's first museum dedicated to women achievers, showcasing their contributions to art, literature, culture, social service and the freedom struggle," an official said earlier.