Who really owns the iconic Connaught Place in Delhi? Who takes rent for CP, The market has a unique...
Connaught Place, or CP as most people call it, is often described as the heart of Delhi. Known for its iconic white colonial-style buildings arranged in a circular layout, CP is one of the most popular shopping and business destinations in India. In fact, it's said to be the seventh most expensive retail market in the country. From high-end brands to popular food joints, everything you need can be found right here. But have you ever wondered, who actually owns Connaught Place? You might be surprised by the answer.
Unlike many believe, Connaught Place is not owned by any private businessman or real estate company. According to media reports, the land and most of the buildings in CP are owned by the Government of India. The day-to-day maintenance and management responsibilities lie with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).
Interestingly, most of the shops, offices, and commercial spaces in Connaught Place operate on leased land. The businesses there don't own the property—they lease it from the government.
But here's the twist—before India gained independence, many of these properties were rented out at very low rates, sometimes just a few hundred rupees. Back then, there were no strict limits on how many shops a person could lease. As a result, it's documented that some individuals managed to lease up to 50 shops in Connaught Place!
Thanks to old lease agreements and rent control laws, several of these properties continued to operate on nominal rents for decades—even while the area around them grew into one of the most high-value retail zones in Asia.
CP's stunning design has a colonial past. It was designed in the 1920s by British architect Robert Tor Russell, and the construction took place between 1929 and 1933. Inspired by the Royal Crescent in Bath, England, Connaught Place was built to be the commercial center of New Delhi, and over time, it became just that.
So, next time you walk through the buzzing lanes of CP, remember—this iconic piece of Delhi doesn't belong to a tycoon or corporation. It belongs to the nation.
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