Gaekwad royal fears harm to palace gate, writes to VMC

The civic body had twice acquired land belonging to the royal family — the first time for constructing the rail overbridge at Lalbag and later during construction of the rail overbridge connecting Akota and Dandia bazaar.

In the VMC’s development plans, the widening of the road on the west side of the road line towards the palace will extend it into the palace compound.

VMC sources said the royal family has approached the corporation apprehending such development plans might threaten the palace gate. In his letter to Municipal Commissioner M K Das, Samarjitsinh

Gaekwad, son of Ranjitsinh
Gaekwad, said the extension line shows that widening of the road will require the removal of the main gate of Laxmivilas Palace and the compound wall.

The main gate and the wall are landmarks of the city, built in 1889 by His Highness Maharaja Sir Sayajirao Gaekwad and they should remain untouched, he said.

Das said: “We have no immediate plans regarding widening of the road. In any case, the map was made 30 years ago and we have not prepared it now. We have received the letter from the royal family, but have not replied to it because there are no such plans now.” 

Gaekwad said the letter was written to the civic body just to save the heritage of the city.

“I happen to be from the royal family, but I am also resident of this city and am deeply concerned about its heritage. The corporation documents show that the gate and the wall are falling in the limits of the road extension, and I have requested the commissioner to save the same. So far there is no reply from their side.”

District Collector Vijay Nehra said: “We have already forwarded the letter to the land-acquisition officer and he is taking care of the matter. But in any case we are following the formal procedure in the land deals which have the legal issues attached to them.”