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FOR A BETTER LOOK New Gateway Experience by 2008 Work on the ground, to give a multi-crore makeover to the Gateway of India, has finally started. A lot of time was wasted as architects failed to agree on the best look for one of Mumbai's defining landmarks. But authorities now promise that the new-look Gateway will be ready for you by 2008 A pile of stone chips and a few markers are the only indications that the project to beautify the Gateway of India has taken off this week. But, when the work is complete and the public gets a larger plaza by the sea with several add-on facilities, the changes will be all too visible. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation officials say they will be able to give people a new and improved Gateway precinct after six months of uninterrupted work. But, with the monsoon likely to stop work for some time, officials say 2008 is a better bet for a date with that "new, improved'' Gateway. The plaza and the park at the Gateway will soon see construction workers milling at the site and digging up the old paved stones for reconstitution of the plaza. The changes are expected to allow more people to stand and gape across the harbour from what has become one of the most popular must-see spots for visitors to the city. The project, first floated by INTACH, has been planned by city architect P K Das and is now another BMC project being overseen by the additional municipal commissioner Manukumar Srivastava. INTACH regional chapter head Tasneem Mehta said the original plan was conceived by her organisation but now it incorporated suggestions from the Heritage Committee and the BMC as well. "Several features, like the establishment of a museum and a car-park, have been left out because of suggestions that have come in later,'' Mehta said. Das said he was working with the municipal authorities and the more serious work would soon begin. "We have just started,'' he added. This project, Das said, was only the first part of the development of the precinct. Development of the area from the Radio Club to the Regal (cinema) will be taken up in the second phase. But officials admit that the beautification plan has been plagued by problems since the idea was mooted seven years ago. There were two plans competing for the project; one was submitted by the Urban Design Research Institute and architect Charles Correa and the other by INTACH and Das. The competing plans were reviewed by a government task-force headed by the chief secretary and including the municipal commissioner and the MMRDA commissioner. The INTACH proposal was chosen but there were suggestions that were later incorported into plan. The new plan was approved by the municipal standing committee and the general body later. THE HISTORY The Gateway of India was built to commemorate the visit King George V and Queen Mary in December 1911. Then Bombay governor Sir George Sydenham Clarke laid the foundation stone on 31 March 1911. The foundations were completed in 1920 and construction was over in 1924. The Gateway was thrown open to the public on 4 December 1924. It cost around Rs 21 lakh. THE ARCHITECTURE The Gateway is an arch built with yellow basalt and reinforced concrete. The architectural style employed is Indo-Saracenic; some elements are from the Muslim architectural styles of 16th-century Gujarat. The central dome is 15 metres in diameter and 26 metres above the ground at its highest point. FUTURE PERFECT THE PLAN Authorities have planned a plaza for strollers so that they can take in the sea without being disturbed by other activities. THE OBJECTIVE You can, even now, take a stroll by the sea at Gateway. But little is done to protect and preserve the heritage precinct. This will change when the makeover is complete; an area, separated from the thoroughfare and the parking area and devoid of all commercial activity, is also likely to be easier to maintain. START OF WORK Work finally started on the project just three days back. THE TIME-FRAME Authorities say they expect the project to be completed in six months. THE COST Officials say the project is likely to cost around Rs 4.5 crore. THE FUNDING AGENCY The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is providing the money for the Rs-4.5-crore project. THE DEVELOPER The BMC is behind the project and has employed a contractor for the work. THE DELAY A lot of time has been wasted in getting the project off the ground as experts have found it difficult to agree on different aspects of the project. The first plan, submitted by Charles Correa, was found unacceptable by a section of heritage experts; a few aspects of the plan met with some opposition. The authorities were forced to ask for alternative suggestions and this took a lot of time. THE ARCHITECT The plan that has now been accepted has been devised by P K Das. MAKING HISTORY BETTER: Visitors to the Gateway of India hold up a page from a BMC brochure that shows the redevelopment plans (above); an artist's version of what the Gateway will look like after the BMC is through with its work (top right); barricades have been put up to keep visitors off the area where work has already started (right) URL : http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDA3LzA0LzEzI0FyMDA0MDA=&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom |
| Also see : Administrative Wards of Mumbai, Government Acts(By Topic), Government Schemes |
