Lajpat Rai garden may house Athwalines police station

In a bid to preserve it,the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) had allotted the Lala Lajpat Rai Garden opposite the fort for setting up the new police station,around two years ago.

But after learning about this,the local residents had filed a petition before the Gujarat High Court asking for the police station to be shifted to some other place like Nanpura and Athwagate.

The matter is sub-judice and no stay has been ordered till date.

Sarvar Nagad,who filed the petition,said: “This garden has its own historical importance as Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had inaugurated it. The garden is in the city centre. We have recommended 14 other places in the city which lies in the Athwalines police station limit and all these places are owned by the Government of Gujarat and are empty plots.”

He added: “Whey should they construct the police station in this garden? Our children play in this garden and even we organise our group meetings here. We have full faith in the judiciary and will accept the decision.”

Public Works Department (PWD) Chairman Deepak Africawala,who has taken a personal interest to set up the police station at the Lala Lajpat Rai Garden,said: “The fort is a heritage building and it is our duty to preserve it. We have come across several damages to structure and have repaired them as well,but it is deteriorating with each passing day.”

On Friday,Africawala,along with officers of the Athwalines police station and the Surat Municipal Corporation were seen demarcating the land for the police station.

According to sources,some 60 feet of road through Kamalgali in the Chowk Bazaar area and some part of the garden will be lost. The road will directly lead to Raj Marg after the police station comes up.

On the allegations by locals that the police station will deprive them of a green area,Africawala said,“There are two more gardens nearby,Gandhi Baug and Subhash Garden”.