Mumbai:
The beautification plan of the Gateway of India has been not executed well, allege residents and activists group. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had set a deadline of July 2008 to complete the work.
The up-gradation and the improvement plans proposed to mend the structure, fix the roads leading to the monument, relocate the travel stalls from the right corner of the monument and provide toilet facility.
"The structure is in a bad condition and beautification work has made it worse. The Maharashtra state archaeology and museum department did not take any conservation architect on board," said historian and researcher Sharada Dwivedi. "Toilets and police chowkies have come up in the vicinity. It is a grade-I precinct area, one can not carry out any form of construction but the authorities have done little to preserve the sanctity of the heritage monument," she added.
The BMC had allotted Rs 5 crore for the beautification work. The contract to carry out the task was awarded to National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH).
Residents of the Colaba claimed that the entire work was a sham and a double way scam. Congress municipal councillor Vinod Shekhar from the area, pointed out "The original grandeur of the monument is lost. The heritage precinct area had blue and black stones which have been removed and by replaced by interlocking pavements. The original stone gave the structure a representation of old Mumbai," He demanded that Municipal Commissioner should re-examine the issue on priority basis and the work should be re- done.
The activists added the plans which were sanctioned were different from what was implemented. The tour and travel offices of the boats plying from the Gateway jetty continue to exist. Remu Javeri from Colaba Tourists Welfare Association said, "The tour and travel stalls should have been moved to the amphi-theater area. The condition at the monument is chaotic and has left little green space around the area."
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The up-gradation and the improvement plans proposed to mend the structure, fix the roads leading to the monument, relocate the travel stalls from the right corner of the monument and provide toilet facility.
"The structure is in a bad condition and beautification work has made it worse. The Maharashtra state archaeology and museum department did not take any conservation architect on board," said historian and researcher Sharada Dwivedi. "Toilets and police chowkies have come up in the vicinity. It is a grade-I precinct area, one can not carry out any form of construction but the authorities have done little to preserve the sanctity of the heritage monument," she added.
The BMC had allotted Rs 5 crore for the beautification work. The contract to carry out the task was awarded to National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH).
Residents of the Colaba claimed that the entire work was a sham and a double way scam. Congress municipal councillor Vinod Shekhar from the area, pointed out "The original grandeur of the monument is lost. The heritage precinct area had blue and black stones which have been removed and by replaced by interlocking pavements. The original stone gave the structure a representation of old Mumbai," He demanded that Municipal Commissioner should re-examine the issue on priority basis and the work should be re- done.
The activists added the plans which were sanctioned were different from what was implemented. The tour and travel offices of the boats plying from the Gateway jetty continue to exist. Remu Javeri from Colaba Tourists Welfare Association said, "The tour and travel stalls should have been moved to the amphi-theater area. The condition at the monument is chaotic and has left little green space around the area."
Copyright restricted. Under license from www.3dsyndication.com
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