Wazirabad bridge may snap Tughlaq-era links

Maneesh Pandey / TNN / Nov 29, 2005, 00:34 IST

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Proposed bridge violates ASI guidelines for any new construction near a centrally-protected monument, say experts.

Wazirabad bridge may snap Tughlaq-era links

NEW DELHI: Will Delhi government's "signature" overpass at Wazirabad burn our bridges with the Tughlaq era? That's what heritage experts and officials of the Archaeological Survey of India fear will happen if the Delhi government goes ahead with its plan to build the Rs 460-crore worth bridge over river Yamuna.
Experts point out that the proposed bridge violates the 100-metre "restricted zone" limit set by the ASI for any new construction near a Centrally-protected monument.
It endangers the very existence of four ASI-protected monuments built by Feroz Shah Tughlaq in 14th century AD, including a heritage bridge that was in use for six centuries.
"The site of the new bridge threatens the existence of a heritage bridge and other monuments which have been categorised under Archaeological Value A," says Ratish Nanda, a conservation architect.

The other protected monuments in danger include a tomb of Shah Alam, a mosque which that doubled as a special gallery for women, and an embankment used to control water flow.
Last documented in Intach's list of Delhi's built heritage, the embankment now lies under a heap of garbage and sand. Says urban development minister A K Walia: "This is an old project for which clearance has been taken few years back."
But a senior ASI official claimed: "It is not clear whether clearance has been taken from the ASI, keeping in view the interests of the protected heritage properties.

It is learnt that the new bridge would be parallel to the existing bridge at Wazirabad, which is not far from these monuments, including the heritage bridge, which is already in a ramshackle state."
Adds O P Jain, convenor of Delhi's chapter of Intach: "The location of the bridge can easily be shifted and the ASI's nod must be sought before construction starts.
Just as the ASI raised objection to the Metro Rail overbridge near Qutab Minar and across Lal Kot Wall, the same rule should apply to this project, as in the case of any other Centrally-protected monument."
Says ASI official Puran Singh: "We have already written thrice to stop traffic on this heritage bridge so that repair and restoration work can be undertaken, but all in vain.
Instead, about 12 metres of railing on top of the embankment was broken due to traffic movement. The construction of this proposed bridge would not only put more pressure on this heritage bridge, but the fate of other monuments will become critical."
Nanda says the Wazirabad group of monuments represents certain unique architectural elements of the Tughlaq period like a mezannine floor in the mosque and embankment within the bridge.
"The monument complex needs to be celebrated as a significant architectural landmark and not disfigured by a modern development that is not sympathetic to 700 years of history.
The Mughal period Barahpullah bridge at Nizamuddin is no longer visible today as a new bridge abuts it �� we should never allow this mistake to be repeated," he adds.

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