Civil Lines, Delhi


The Civil Lines is an affluent residential area and subdivision of Central Delhi District in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, India. It is one of the 12 zones under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. It was the hub of European-style hotels in the city until New Delhi came into being in 1911.

History

The name Civil Lines is a relic of British Raj times, when the city of Delhi was organized into separate areas where the British military and civilian buildings were located. Areas, where civilians lived, were demarcated as Civil Lines. One monument of the British Raj era is the Metcalfe House, Delhi. This is where the administration and governance of the Indian Empire were conducted by nineteen Governor Generals from Lord Canning to Lord Reading at their offices housed in the Old Secretariat building on the Alipore Road, and the residence of these Governor Generals was the prestigious bungalow at 1. Alipore Road which was vacated by the British Indian government in 1930 to relocate the residence for succeeding viceroys at a palatial complex on the Raisina hill in Lutyens' Delhi known as the Vice Roy's House. The bungalow at 1. Alipore Road today houses the Indra Prastha College for Women. The Old Secretariat after 1931 housed the offices of the British Indian Army and the Post Master General and the adjoining Army Press. After independence, It became the seat of Delhi's Metropolitan Council and currently houses several offices of the Central Government like the Publications Department and offices of the Delhi Administration. The Vice Roy's House today is the official residence of the Presidents of the Indian Republic and is called the Rashtrapati Bhawan. The offices of the Old Secretariat at Alipore Road were also relocated in 1931 to the New Secretarial Building at Lutyens' Delhi adjoining the Vice Roy's House and is called the Central Secretariat today. One of the earliest modern hotels in Delhi was the Maidens Hotel, later Oberoi Maidens, built-in 1903. It was situated in the Civil Lines, where all European-style hotels were situated and the officers of British Raj stayed. Other hotels in the area were Swiss Hotel and Hotel Cecil, run by Robert Hotz family, which also owned Wildflower Hall and Cecil Hotel in Shimla. Hotel Cecil was later demolished and today St. Xavier's School stands on the location.
Raj Niwas, the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, the head of state of Delhi and National Capital Territory of Delhi, is located on Raj Niwas Marg in Civil Lines. A children's home run by Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity lies north of Qudsia Bagh in Civil Lines. Civil Lines is quite a big area consisting of various colonies and offices. One of the main colonies is Delhi Police Staff Quarters which is just behind the Civil Lines Police Station.
Civil Lines is connected to Delhi University North Campus.
It is now a developing district. It includes areas like:
The Civil Lines underground station of the Delhi Metro services the area. The station harbors the yellow line. This residential area is also close to Kashmere Gate metro station, which harbors three metro lines.
Interstate Bus Terminal is very close to the colony.
Hotels:
3/4 Star: Oberoi Maidens Hotel, Sham Nath Marg