Restoration plan for Gateway gets going
Smita Deshmukh, November 28, 2006
The Rs5-crore restoration project is expected to be completed in six months
The Rs5-crore restoration plan for the Gateway of India precinct has finally kicked off with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) inviting tenders to develop the area around the Grade I heritage monument. After clearance from the Mumbai Urban Heritage Conservation Committee (MUHCC), civic authorities have also applied for a Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) nod from the Centre. With tenders already under process, the work is likely to begin by the first week of December and authorities are hopeful to complete it in six months.
The plan, prepared by the Indian National Trust For Arts and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), aims not just to restore the “iconic” heritage of the monument but define it too. All the utilities spread in the area will be brought under one roof with the establishment of an integrated service centre just behind the Wittet fountain, as per the plan. “This centre will house the ticketing counter, police, civic services, washrooms etc. This facility will be covered by a two-feet construction made of Malad yellow stone to avoid visual clutter from the Gateway side,” said Manu Srivastava, additional municipal commissioner (city).
An area at the right turn will act as a car drop to avoid traffic congestion, while a taxi stand is planned opposite Taj Mahal hotel. Reducing the garden space along with removal of the two existing toilet blocks will increase the plaza space. The BMC’s planned underground parking facility near Regal cinema would solve the parking problem, added Srivastava. “The idea is to de-clutter the plaza.
The Wittet Fountain will be restored to its original glory and old trees protected for green cover,” explained architect PK Das, who has designed the plan. With the entire boundary of the garden containing the Shivaji Maharaj statue and Wittet Fountain designed to ensure public seating, the precinct offers the opportunity to the visitor to sit and view the monument. “The Gateway is a significant public space. For us, the experience of being at the Gateway is more important then merely visiting the space,” Das said.
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