Pahar Ganj to be demolished?

Hey travelers
There are rumours around that Pahar Ganj will be totally broken down to make way for a huge road and tram... Many shops and hotels will be demolished and that will hapen probably verry soon. Where will all the tourists go? It will be a disaster as the breaking of buildings creates naturally alot of dust and it will be a big mess....Many shopkeepers are having nightmares about it. There is nothing we can do about it, so if you are in Delhi, enjoy the last few days/weeks in the old, atmospheric, authentic Main Bazaar....

I am no fan of paharganj but it is sort of unique in many ways. Btw, where did you read/ hear of it? Could you post any links?

Yes, sure would like to read about this, especially where and when the demolition is to take place. I'm wondering if it will affect my hotel reservations for late December/early January ?

Hmm. Well let's see. A tram? There's all ready the metro line in place at the far west end. Delhi's a big place, the tourist will find other places to stay... I am no fan of paharganj as well... rip it down, it's a festy s*** hole as far as I'm concerned.

But provides cheap central accomodation near ND Station. I for one have very fond memories of PG.

Yep I really love that place and I generally dislike tourist ghettos. I like the edgy atmosphere it has, great place to sip a chai and people watch. It will be a massive shame to see it go. Also I know a few people who own shops there, what are they supposed to do? They depend on that place for their livelihoods.

Whilst we're on the subject, they really need to demolish that speaker system that tells you to be aware of your luggage. I feel for the locals who must tolerate it 12 hours a day, it drives me mad.

To Paharganj knockers, I don't know what the fuss is about. Paharganj seems OK to me. Sure, there aren't gleaming new glass and chrome building facades, there are few streets with proper curb and guttering, many of the buildings look run down and there are building rubbish piles lying about. But what's so different about that? Same could be said of a few places in Chennai, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata etc. Paharganj seems like many other urban settlements in India, nothing especially different except there are more backpackers to be seen in Paharganj because it's in the capital, Delhi.

I think this whole thing is a bit over blown for just being a rumor...who started this rumor?

Here's a rumor... http://www.indianexpress.com/news/mc...j-area/492358/

Kind of leans to the opposite of 'demolished'. Really, Paharganj could use a good clean up... it just gets worse and worse over the many years I've been going there.

But I won't miss it either. It's a mess. I'd like to read about this demolition though. This seems to just be a rumor.

A tram would be nice.

There's plenty of other places to stay in Delhi in all price ranges.

So, it seems it will be a beautification project and one of the things will be to get those unbelievably dangerous overhead electrical wires put underground!! Brilliant!! and about time.

If they do what they plan, it will be a really nice place for budget travelers to stay, instead of the dump it currently is. I might go back.

The news item was from July but nothing had started on the ground in Paharganj when I was there late October.

Several Connaught Place blocks are under major exterior refurbishment, I expect in time for the Games.

July, yes. That was kind of my point... i'm sure the contract award monies for that job have been spent and marked as completed... it's the Indian way. I really don't think that Paharganj, or Main Bazar in particular - as we know it - is in it's "the last few days/weeks " legs... just yet. things just don't move that fast. Or do they?

Lets see what happens... I have heard about this now since more than a year... it has to be broken. And they will start soon if they want it ready for the Common wealth games...

Yep, it's pretty much being demolished - have a look at these pictures I took today - you won't recognise it! http://www.pbase.com/serenab/paharganj_is_falling_down

It looks exactly as I remembered it!

Just kidding - very nice photo study underwater-girl.