Delhi master plan links 9 heritage sites in cultural precincts

The Master Plan for Delhi-2047 (MPD-2047), approved by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on Wednesday, proposes to organise heritage areas into nine indicative cultural precincts. These include Nizamuddin, Mehrauli, Hauz Khas, Lodhi Road, Chirag Dilli, and the Walled City, according to Hindustan Times. The plan defines a cultural precinct as a concentration of tangible and intangible heritage, combining architectural, historical, and natural values through streets and cohesive built form.

Separately, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta launched four spiritual and heritage tourism circuits at the 'Spiritual and Heritage Tourism Conclave 2026' held at Akshardham Temple on August 11, Times of India reports. The circuits link sites such as Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, the Lotus Temple, Akshardham Temple, Purana Qila, and Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah. Gupta said the aim is to transform Delhi from a transit city into a destination city, encouraging longer stays and generating employment.

For each cultural precinct under MPD-2047, the DDA will prepare a Cultural Resource Management Plan setting urban design controls and traffic strategies. Pedestrian zones, non-motorised transport, and eco-cultural corridors along drains are proposed. The Walled City will retain its historic fabric, with no group housing permitted in notified heritage areas. Temporary eco-friendly structures may be allowed for festivals, and adaptive reuse of heritage structures is permitted.