Shahdara is the ideal place for anyone who wants to live amidst the quintessential old Dilli. Located in the northeast part of Delhi, Shahdara is one of the oldest localities in Delhi, only second to Chandni Chowk. The locality hosts the well-to-do colonies of Naveen Shahdara and Jyoti Nagar, which house the rich and the wealthy, and the very well planned colony of Vishwas Nagar. Bholanath Nagar and Goverdhan Behari Colony are older residential areas, with a number of schools and parks, and are generally preferred by families.
The rich and affluent prefer Shahdara’s fair share of well-to-do neighbourhoods. Jyoti Nagar is one of those wealthy neighbourhoods generally preferred by families. The roads are comfortable and there is ample greenery around, with parks and schools. All in all, it is ideal for families.
Chhota Bazaar in Shahdara deserves special mention, mainly because it is the heart and soul of this locality as well as of Old Delhi. Clothes, sweets, oil, and grains are sold here, and an ancient Hanuman temple, dating back to the 16th century, is located here.
Connectivity and Transit Points
One of the major modes of connectivity for the residents of Shahdara is the metro rail. The Shahdara metro station falls on the line 1 of the Delhi Metro. People from this locality wishing to commute to other areas like Dilshad Garden, Jhilmil, Manasarovar Park, Seelampur, Shastri Park, Inder Lok, Pitampura, and Rohini can use the metro rail.
Besides the metro station, the Shahdara Junction railway station is a major transit point of the locality. It is 9 km away from the New Delhi railway station, 14 km from Ghaziabad railway station, and 15 km from Lajpat Nagar station.
Major Landmarks
Factors for Growth in the Past
One of the major factors behind the development of Shahdara into a preferred residential locality is the presence of three metro stations within its precincts. Since it is a large area, it deserved enhanced connectivity, in this case, the metro rail.
In recent times, the construction of a number of malls, such as the Aditya Mega Mall and Metro Mall, has contributed a lot in building and expanding the commercial market in Shahdara. Development of the retail sector in the locality has led to the growth of residential projects in this once old Dilli neighbourhood.
Residential Market
The residential market in Shahdara consists mostly of individual houses and multi-storey apartments. Builder floor apartments are also quite popular in this locality. The average price of multi-storey apartments in Shahdara is around Rs 8,000 per sq. ft. However, builder floor apartments are priced lower at Rs 6,500 per sq. ft.
Major Challenges
The Shahdara Lake has been polluted for quite some time now. The residents of Shahdara have been dumping their garbage in this lake for years, causing the lake to be completed clogged up with garbage. This is also turning the lake into a breeding ground for mosquitoes and pests. Erratic garbage disposal on street corners and drainage issues are causing the residents a headache, too. The clogging up of the drains even leads to the overflowing of sewage water.
Such widespread development in the locality has meant that there’s no place to park bikes and cars in the locality! Therefore, people are now resorting to parking their vehicles on roads and footpaths, causing major inconvenience for the residents. Traffic is simply a menace now and needs to be curbed.
Future Prospects for Growth
There has been a proposal for converting the polluted Shahdara Lake into a major landmark area for the locality. It is going to be converted into a major picnic spot, and is expected to serve as a tourist destination. The whole area will consist of a lake with an island, a children’s park, an amphitheatre, and plenty of greenery around. This upcoming beautification of a major part of the locality will help in attracting a lot of buyers around the park as well as in other areas in Shahdara. Inevitably, commercial development will rise around the area too.
