Amritsar: Will the proposed Rs 210-crore elevated road, announced by Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh be a blessing or a bane for the City here?

Heritage lovers and experts say that the proposed project may pose a threat to the city. They say, no such action had been taken in any historic and ancient city of the world.

Mr Balvinder Singh, a reader, Guru Ramdas School of Planning, Guru Nanak Dev University, and heritage expert feels this will disturb character and aesthetics of the area and may cause damage to Sri Harmandar Sahib since fumes from vehicles are bound to damage the environs and gold-covered shrine. No Environment Impact assessment study has been conducted before the announcement of the Prime Minister. The wind direction of the city is north west south east. The proposed parking lot will be in the north west of Sri Harmandar Sahib and vehicles at speed will land there. Public participation is another ignored area. This will disturb not only the character and aesthetics of the area but also may cause damage to Sri Harmandar Sahib. He said wind direction of the city is north west south east. The proposed parking lot will be in the north west of the Golden Temple. “Can’t we find other alternatives? There are solutions both long-term and short-term, he said.

Mr Balvinder Singh added the latest threat to the city was by elevated road especially the one, to be constructed in the walled city. He said the period of Sikh Misls and Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1765-1849) was considered the golden period for the development of this city. During the British period i.e. from 1849-1947, the wall was demolished, one moat was filled up and gates dismantled. The only gate left is Rambagh gate, — a dilapidated condition. The layout of Rambagh garden and Gobindgarh fort was disturbed.

During the period from 1947-2005, the name of re-development many areas were demolished. A major project “Approach Road to Golden Temple and Jallianwala Bagh” was prepared. Access to both these places widened. At that time no body thought of involving conservation professionals due to their unavailability in the country. Today conservation professionals are available, guidelines are there but they were not being consulted, he said.

He suggested one short-term solution was to start battery-operated buses from different points outside the walled city and long-term introduction of metro. There are guidelines which must be referred before starting the elevated road inside the walled city.

He urged the Prime Minister to look into the above suggestions and the proposal of elevated road in the walled city should be given rethinking. It would help conserve the character of this city founded by great Guru.

Mr Brij Bedi, another heritage lover said that instead of constructing elevated roads, the administration should first improve the infrastructure already available in the city.Mr Balvinder Singh added the latest threat to the city was by elevated road especially the one, to be constructed in the walled city. He said the period of Sikh Misls and Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1765-1849) was considered the golden period for the development of this city. During the British period i.e. from 1849-1947, the wall was demolished, one moat was filled up and gates dismantled. The only gate left is Rambagh gate, — a dilapidated condition. The layout of Rambagh garden and Gobindgarh fort was disturbed.

During the period from 1947-2005, the name of re-development many areas were demolished. A major project “Approach Road to Golden Temple and Jallianwala Bagh” was prepared. Access to both these places widened. At that time no body thought of involving conservation professionals due to their unavailability in the country. Today conservation professionals are available, guidelines are there but they were not being consulted, he said

He suggested one short-term solution was to start battery-operated buses from different points outside the walled city and long-term introduction of metro. There are guidelines which must be referred before starting the elevated road inside the walled city.

He urged the Prime Minister to look into the above suggestions and the proposal of elevated road in the walled city should be given rethinking. It would help conserve the character of this city founded by great Guru.

Mr Brij Bedi, another heritage lover said that instead of constructing elevated roads, the administration should first improve the infrastructure already available in the city.