ASI illuminates 14 monuments

NEW DELHI: Less than a week to go for the Commonwealth Games and Delhi’s monuments are finally being illuminated. Despite having years of preparation time, the project has been marred by several delays. However, ASI is finally ready to showcase 14 illuminated monuments where work has been executed by ITDC. Fourteen other monuments under the state archaeology department have also been illuminated and will exhibit Delhi’s rich heritage.
CM Sheila Dikshit on Tuesday evening went on an inspection of the ASI monuments that were to be illuminated to ensure that the monuments were ready on time.Work on these 14 sites picked up pace in the last few days after it was revealed that eight sites were yet to be energised by power companies as applications hadn’t even been sent.
Discom officials said applications for illuminating Khooni Darwaaza and Ferozeshah Kotla were received only on Saturday. ‘‘Normally, the procedure takes up to a week’s time. At these monuments, lighting was arranged through PWD streetlights across the road as otherwise 500m of digging was required to lay cables,’’ said an official. Similarly, other applications for illumination of centrally-protected monuments were received only last weekend. The ASI monuments to be illuminated include Purana Qila, Khairul Manzil, Sher Shah Gate and Masjid, Subz Burj, Safdarjung Tomb, Kotla Feroz Shah, Khani-i-Khana at Nizamuddin, Barah Khamba in Nizamuddin, Lal Darwaaza at Delhi Gate, Choti Gumti at Green Park, Sikri Gumti at Green Park, Biran ka Gumbad at Green Park, Dadi Poti at Green Park and Najaf Khan Tomb at Jor Bagh.
While ASI and ITDC delayed their illumination plans, other bodies that had plans to illuminate 14 other state-level monuments finished their work in record time. Officials from executing agency Intach Delhi Chapter, who designed the illumination job as well as conservation work, said their monuments were ready to be lit up. The 14 monuments are located near CWG venues.