Mandvi gate crumbling: Congress accuses BJP of ‘lack of intent’ in restoration, party hits back

The Congress party’s remarks came a day after part of the weakened column of the gate gave way on Tuesday night, prompting concerns about the structure’s safety.

Vadodara city Congress President Rutvij Joshi, who visited Mandvi gate on Thursday, lashed out at the ruling BJP in the Vadodara Municipal Corporation, including elected representatives, which has been “dilly dallying” the restoration work since the structure first showed signs of crumbling in April this year.

Joshi said, “Mandvi needs to be restored on an emergency basis but over four months have passed… This needs to be done on a war footing and we are still at a stage when the civic body has no answers to when the tenders will be floated and when the work will begin”.

“They (BJP) are in power from the lowest office to the highest. Why are they not using their power? It is the lack of intention and will power.. The heritage of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III is in a run down state…,” he said.

Joshi asserted that it was “appalling” that the elected representatives of the BJP, including Mayor Pinky Soni and Raopura MLA Balkrishna Shukla, who is also the Chief Whip of the Assembly, had not visited the structure since Tuesday although it was Shukla’s constituency.

Joshi said, “Why are these leaders missing? If they think that their credit and limelight will be taken away by protesting residents, we are willing to give them full credit for the restoration and pat their backs. But, please, come out here and undertake this work immediately before this piece of legacy is lost”.

Meanwhile, a senior BJP leader from the city unit said that the task of undertaking repairs was with the VMC and “adequate steps” were being taken. “Immediately after the April incident, consultants with expertise in heritage conservation were brought on board to assess and prepare a report of the action needed. The tendering process is on and within a few days the work will begin,” the BJP leader on the condition of anonymity said.

“The Congress party wants to find reasons to incite citizens but everyone is aware that the party (BJP) is committed not only to just restoring but also reclaiming our history and heritage,” added the BJP leader.

Mandvi gate, which blends Islamic and Gaekwad period architecture, featuring intricately carved arches, stonework and captivating stories of the now-extinct Kila-e-Daulatabad from the times of the Mughal Sultanate in Gujarat, has been supported by metal beams under the arches by the civic body, which, experts have pointed out as being detrimental to the structure.

On April 13, The Indian Express had reported that the VMC is awaiting the “appointment of staff” to complete the process of issuing tender for the structure’s repair and restoration. This was because the Heritage Cell, the department which will now issue the tender, was yet to have officers being given charge for the posts of Additional Assistant Engineer (AAE) and Deputy Engineer to allow the tender proposal to pass through proper channels, the report highlighted.