MakeMyTrip Foundation, the social impact arm of India’s largest online travel company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) to transform the Dilli Haat INA renovation — upgrading infrastructure at one of the capital’s most iconic open-air cultural markets.

The partnership targets three key areas at the 30-year-old craft bazaar: greener landscaping, upgraded promenade lighting to extend evening footfall, and hygiene improvements to washroom facilities — changes designed to serve the hundreds of artisans from across India who depend on the haat as a primary marketplace.

The announcement aligns with Delhi’s broader push to develop a night-time tourism economy.

“Dilli Haat-INA is a perfect example of an evening destination that supports our vision,” said Rekha Gupta, Chief Minister of Delhi, adding that the government is committed to positioning Delhi as a leading global destination.

“We are also focused on building a strong night tourism economy that allows visitors to experience the city well beyond sundown.”

Art, Culture and Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra described the market as a meeting point between artisans who bring crafts from across the country and visitors who come to experience India’s heritage.

“Collaborations like this one with MakeMyTrip Foundation help us deliver tangible improvements on the ground,” Mishra said.

DTTDC Managing Director Suneel Anchipaka, IAS, said improved lighting would be critical as Delhi scales its evening tourism offering, making the haat more inviting for families well into the night.

For MakeMyTrip Foundation, the Dilli Haat INA renovation marks a first step into urban cultural tourism, following a decade of work in afforestation, mangrove plantation along the Gujarat coast, and community-based tourism in the Himalayas.

“Our aim here is not only to enhance the visitor experience but also to contribute to making this space more sustainable,” said Rajesh Magow, Co-Founder and Group CEO of MakeMyTrip and Managing Trustee of the Foundation.

Dilli Haat-INA, located in south Delhi’s INA colony, has operated for over three decades as a permanent crafts fair hosting artisans from every state, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.