Indian Express 25.01.2010
Heritage conservation of Walled City: Civic body awaits ASI nod
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is yet to formally approve the funding for the conservation of heritage structures in the Walled City, under the JNNURM projects. The Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) of the Union Ministry of Urban Development has approved the Detailed Project Report (DPR) on the same.
The AMC has two proposals for submission before the ASI — renovation and restoration of Bhadra Fort, and the the construction of an elevated corridor from Raipur to Dariapur gate for the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS). The two will cost Rs 99 crore. Of these, the renovation for Bhadra Fort involves an expenditure of Rs 74.39 crore.
The CSMC had approved the DPR last week. Now ASI and the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the coming weeks. As part of the MoU, the restoration and beautification of the area in and around Bhadra Fort would be taken for Rs 38.45 crore.
AMC is upbeat about the plans, but ASI is likely to take time to examine the plans. A K Sinha, director of monuments at ASI in New Delhi said the AMC is yet to submit a formal proposal to ASI about the Bhadra Fort restoration and renovation project, which also involves the development of surrounding area and monuments as part of JNNURM.
“Once the proposal is formally received, we will examine it before deciding on the MoU,” he said.
Municipal Commissioner I P Gautam said the ASI directorate general had agreed in principle to allow renovation of an area not in its possession. For the remainder, which is in possession of ASI, the ASI alone will take up the restoration work, he added. “We will send a detailed draft of the MoU within a week to ASI for consideration.”
Meanwhile, discussions are underway with the new ASI director-general Dr Gautam Sengupta on the MoU, said a senior AMC official.
Officials at the Vadodara Circle have confirmed the development but did not divulge any further detail.
