Plans to revive heritage walk around city landmarks
NEW DELHI: The Delhi government is planning to revive the Heritage Walk in the capital by providing guides at metro stations that are located near monuments and improving the infrastructure around historical places.
Sources said the initiative will run independently of the one being organised by Indian National Trust for Art and Cutural Heritage (INTACH) as they are not satisfied with the response.
“The tourism department has been asked to come up with a presentation on how to revive the heritage walk. It is running but not many are interested due to poor roads, lack of toilets and safety issues. The Delhi government will do it separately after preparing a detailed plan,” said a Delhi government official.
Tourism minister Jitender Singh Tomar said the government was planning to launch the walk from Chandni Chowk and then take it to other monuments and historical places. “We have invited suggestions from public on social media and will prepare a detailed plan to attract tourists for the heritage walk,” said Alka Lamba, MLA from Chandni Chowk, who is assisting Tomar in tourism-related initiatives.
The tourism department said the objective was to make the citizens aware of their cultural and historical environment. “We will take online bookings and interested persons can register themselves for the heritage walk. This will help citizens and tourists to relate to the historic parts of the city in a more personal and intimate manner,” the official said.
The government is planning to improve infrastructure around monuments. “If there is congestion and lack of basic amenities, no one will come to participate in such events. We will first have to improve infrastructure,” the official said.
The official said guides having a background in history and who know the city well will be hired. “It will generate jobs and initiate community-based conservation efforts involving citizens, volunteers, and other organisations,” he said.