Meharchand Market

Meharchand Market was initially established in 1948 as a refugee market, when 240 makeshift shops were allocated to refugees who had fled Pakistan after the partition of India in 1947.^[1][4] In 1962, the market was renamed as Meharchand Market after the then-Union Minister for Rehabilitation, Mehr Chand Khanna.^[4] After its establishment and renaming, Meharchand Market became known for its tailoring shops and tent houses.^[9][10] By the mid-2010s, Meharchand Market was known as an upscale and trendy shopping area.^[11][12]

However, by 2018, many of the markets' shops were sealed by a Supreme Court-appointed committee as shopkeepers had illegally built more space for their shops, leaving only the ground floors compliant with the market's original plan.^[6] In 2020, a redevelopment scheme for Meharchand Market was approved by the then-South Delhi Municipal Corporation, which would allow a 90% ground coverage with a 350 floor area ratio.^[6] This would allow shopkeeper build a basement, ground, first and second floors.^[6] In 2022, the sealed shops began to be unsealed by the Municipal Council of Delhi after approval from the Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee.^[7] As of 2024, the redevelopment Maherchand Market is still ongoing.^[8]

Meharchand Market is noted as a shopping hub.^[3][13] Shops in the market include designer stores, cafes, jewellery shops and salons.^[9][10][3] The market has also become known for its street art and murals.^[14]

Meharchand Market is located in Lodhi Colony and on the edge of Lutyens' Delhi.^[1][15] The market comes under the area of South Delhi.^[16]