The plight of Sirhindi Gate, built in the 18th century, is a reflection of how the heritage of Patiala is slowly vanishing.

The gate was closed for traffic after a portion of its roof collapsed on Friday. The gate being a protected monument, the district administration has taken up the matter with the Department of Archaeology.

Deputy Commissioner Viswajit Khanna told TNS that it was for the Archaeology Department to decide what was to be done next. He said if the gate was to be repaired, funds would have to be provided. He said it would be difficult to repair the monument, adding he had told the PWD to vacate the families living near it.
Residents and shopkeepers living near the gate want it be declared as a UN heritage building. Talking to TNS, Sanjiv Garg, a Youth Congress leader, who has petitioned to the Deputy Commissioner for the demolition of the structure along with many others, said the gate was one of the main entrances to the walled city and its closure was causing inconvenience to people. He also said that the business of shopkeepers inside the gate was being affected due to the closure.

Although demolishing the gate would widen the road and probably create more space for construction of shops, those linked with the heritage of the city feel that the callousness of the authorities in failing to maintain old monuments will lead to their fading into oblivion.

Prof Kulwant Singh Grewal of Punjabi University said steps should be taken to restore the gate, which symbolised the route taken by people coming to settle here from Sirhind due to the incentives given by the Patiala Royal House. He said originally there were more than 13 gates in the city but slowly all of them had crumbled. While most had been demolished to widen roads, and to construct shopping complexes, only three were left now.
Residents living near the gate, however, complain that efforts had been made to stabilise the structure earlier but it was beyond repair now. They said all its three arches had been strengthened by constructing pillars and giving it support after the plea for demolishing it was stayed by the court at the instance of Capt Amarinder Singh, the pradesh Congress chief.

Mr R.G. Verma, a historian, disclosed that most of the gates were constructed during the time of Maharaja Narinder Singh. He said while most of the gates had similar structures, the one built near Modi College was bigger and more ornate. He said though these did not serve any purpose now, these still gave a glimpse of the rich heritage of the city.