The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has restored the heritage areas in Roshanara Club in North Delhi and Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Sunday inaugurated the restored heritage buildings. The club was taken over by DDA in 2023, sparking a legal back-and-forth between DDA and the former private management. Chandni Chowk MP Praveen Khandelwal, Model Town MLA Ashok Goel, Vice Chairman DDA, N Saravana Kumar and other senior officers of DDA also attended the momentous occasion. Roshanara Club, holds a unique legacy as a cradle of Indian cricket and is considered as the birthplace of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). In 1922, Civil Lines was populated by British bureaucrats and the emerging Indian elite, who joined hands to set up the club on 22 acres on the western side of Roshanara Bagh. The club is renowned for hosting a meeting that led to the ideation and creation of the Board of Cricket Control Of India (BCCI). Located in the heart of North Delhi, the Club has stood for over a century as a symbol of prestige and excellence. Sprawling over 22 acres of green serenity, it has long served as a regal and lush haven for its members. During the process of inventorisation and assessment, it was observed that the clubs infrastructure had sustained significant damage and its conditions had dilapidated over the years due to continuous neglect moreover the site was also marred by encroachments. DDA undertook extensive civil, electrical, and aesthetic restoration to restore the grandeur of Roshanara Club while preserving its original heritage. The restored Roshanara Club now houses a wide array of state-of-the-art facilities. Indoor amenities include a reception area, main lounge, card and billiards rooms, kids play area, a fully functional bar and dining hall, banquet, library, swimming pool with changing rooms, gym/fitness centre, squash board and badminton hall, yoga and sauna and steam area. Outdoor facilities have also been upgraded and include grass, clay and synthetic lawn tennis courts, cricket grounds and practice pitches, mini football and basketball zones, and a dedicated joggers park. Particular attention was given to the preservation of the Clubs architectural legacy. The century-old façade, including the European-style doors and windows, Mangalore tiled roof, and intricate wooden trusses, have all been carefully restored. Antique chandeliers and original furnishings were refurbished and reupholstered to revive their classic charm. Speaking at the occasion, Lt Governor said,It is a big moment for us as this heritage club has been restored and relaunched. I congratulate citizens of Delhi on this occasion. Delhi is a city of heritage and in the last three years, a number of heritage have been restored and we are committed towards more in the future. In a tweet on X he said : Unveiled the restored and refurbished DDA Roshanara Club along with Honble MP, Shri Praveen Khandelwal and Honble MLAs, Shri Ashok Goel and Shri Surya Prakash Khatri. The over-a-century old club, with its heritage colonial charm, vintage architecture and the myriad recreational/sporting activities it offers, has reopened for the people of Delhi. Once a cultural and social retreat of the British era, the Roshanara Club was lying in a dilapidated state with crumbling facade and poor maintenance and upkeep. In January 2023, had directed DDA to restore and renovate this heritage. With the Roshanara Club reopening its doors to the people of Delhi, I invite all to be a part of its rich legacy and savour its cultural charm, On 12th January 2023, Saxena on his maiden visit to the Roshanara Club, noticed the Century-old Club in a state of sheer neglect. The majestic structure was lying in a dilapidated state with poor maintenance with a crumbling facade. The Club, which had remained sealed for over one and a half years, was officially taken over by DDA on 29th September 2023. After repossession of the leased premises, Saxena, emphasised upon the need for immediate restoration and renovation of Roshanara Club to reinstate its glorious heritage and charm of a bygone era. Under the direct supervision of  Lt. Governor, which entailed a number of site visits and review meetings, a careful and meticulously drawn up revival plan was undertaken by DDA, while ensuring that the historic character of the structures remains intact. With the completion of this ambitious renovation project, Roshanara Club is once again poised to be a centre of culture, sports, recreation, and heritage in Delhi. DDA is committed to leaving no stone unturned in successfully undertaking initiatives that preserve Delhis heritage while thoughtfully upgrading it with the changing needs of its residents, DDA said.

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