MCD plans geo-mapping of over 1,300 heritage buildings, havelis in Delhi

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is planning to geo-map more than 1,300 protected heritage buildings and havelis across the city to strengthen their preservation and management, prevent unauthorised construction and aid conservation, officials said on Tuesday.

According to the officials, the exercise is expected to take at least six months. It will create an interactive digital map by plotting the precise locations of heritage properties along with spatial data.

“The interactive map once ready will be uploaded on MCD’s heritage website for tourists and can be used by the civic body to check on the current status of these buildings,” an official said.

Senior officials of the MCD’s heritage cell said the corporation will soon begin the process of appointing a consultant for the project, which will create a digital database of all MCD-notified heritage properties along with their precise locations and other key details.

According to officials, the initiative follows complaints that building plans had been approved for some protected structures, including in parts of Old Delhi, because the corporation’s online building plan approval system did not identify them as heritage properties.

“In some cases, property owners allegedly submitted incorrect affidavits while applying for building plan approvals. Since these properties were not mapped on the portal, the violations went undetected,” the official said, adding that these monuments have already been geo-tagged by the corporation and geo-mapping will further strengthen the data of these heritage buildings.

Once geo-mapped, each heritage property will be linked to its address and geographical coordinates. The information will also be integrated with the MCD’s online building plan approval portal so that any application involving a protected property is automatically flagged, preventing approvals that violate heritage regulations.

The corporation also plans to install information boards at the identified heritage sites.

Officials said the geo-mapped database would eventually be made available on the MCD website, allowing residents and visitors to locate and learn about the city’s protected heritage buildings, which could also support heritage tourism.

The MCD has notified more than 1,300 heritage structures, including historic havelis and other old buildings, under its jurisdiction, officials added.