New Delhi: The concept and nomenclature of Civil Lines, the residential areas established by the British and long associated with their proximity to administrative power, may fade into history.As the Center has stepped up its efforts to replace remnants of colonial-era laws and practices with alternatives that are of Indian origin and reflect the country’s culture, the ‘Civil Lines’ framework has been identified as one such legacy to review.TOI has learned that a massive exercise is being conducted to identify the remnants of British rule, with the aim of eradicating the mindset and embracing indigenous identity. In January, PM Narendra Modi had asked ministers and top bureaucrats to identify colonial-era practices and suggest alternatives that have Indian roots.Originally developed in the 19th century, the Civil Lines were planned as exclusive enclaves with superior infrastructure, symbolizing the power and proximity of the colonial masters. These were built to house “senior colonial civil officials”. Civil Lines is present in Delhi and many cities in states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra. For a long time, these remained separate from other parts of the “old” cities or markets.

An urban planner and architect who has extensively studied the planning and architecture of the British period said, “The development of civil lines was a part of planned development. There was the Cantonment Board on one side of the city, and the civil lines on the other. This is how cities developed.”Former DDA Commissioner (Planning) AK Jain said that in all these years the civil lines across the country have completely changed. “Instead of bungalows, you now have multi-storey buildings; the population has increased manifold and these have become part of the main cities. So, there is hardly any significance in changing the name.”He said, “During the colonial period, about 75 cantonments were developed in India. The Civil Lines were equivalent to military enclaves.”Over the past decade, the government has renamed some major roads and offices whose original names date back to the British era. Some of these include changing the name of Race Course Road in Delhi to Lok Kalyan Marg.