Lahori Gate Haveli Cleared for Shahjahanabad Museum

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has cleared the conversion of Lahori Gate Haveli into the Shahjahanabad Museum and Interpretation Centre in Old Delhi. The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts has granted in-principle approval for the museum project, and the restored haveli is planned as a public heritage space in Khari Baoli at Vasudev Captain Chowk.

Lahori Gate Haveli

Lahori Gate Haveli is a 97-year-old heritage structure in Old Delhi. The building was constructed in 1929 and functioned as a single-room dispensary until 2003. Its restoration was completed in 2025, before the museum proposal was finalised in 2026.

Shahjahanabad Museum Project

Shahjahanabad was the walled city founded by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century. The proposed museum will present a chronological account of Shahjahanabad through artefacts, crafts, digital databases, narrative panels, and audio-visual tools. The plan also includes galleries on the city’s evolution and digital reconstructions of historic structures.

Approvals, Funding and Conservation

The Union culture ministry sanctioned ₹4.22 crore in 2017 under the Museum Grant Scheme for the project. The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage prepared the conservation plan for the haveli. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi finalised the proposal in August 2026, after which an MoU with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts is to be signed.

Important Facts for Exams

• Shahjahanabad is the historical name of Old Delhi and was established by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.
• The Museum Grant Scheme is a central government funding mechanism for museum-related projects in India.
• The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts is a major autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture.
• INTACH is a heritage conservation organisation involved in documentation and restoration of historic structures in India.

Project Timeline

Work on the museum project is expected to begin in September 2026. Completion is planned by the end of 2026, and the museum is expected to open to visitors in early 2027.