ASI may block BRTS elevation

A major roadblock is likely to be the construction of elevated corridor from the New Cloth Market near Raipur to Dariapur Gate. The two-odd km elevated corridor will pass through as many as half a dozen Centrally-protected monuments. They are the Sarangpur Darwaja, Shaking Minarets of Sidi Bashir Mosque near the railway station, Panchkuva Gate, Shaking Minarets near the old DRM Office, Kalupur Darwaja, Prem Darwaja and Dariapur Darwaja.

Under the existing rules, there is a blanket ban on modern constructions and repairs of old buildings in the 100-metre vicinity of such monuments.

Shivanand Rao, Superintending Archaeologist of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), said he had no knowledge of any AMC plans for the construction of the elevated corridor. “Before starting the work, the AMC authorities will have to seek permission from the ASI Director-General.

The application for necessary permission will have to be routed through the Gujarat office, he said, adding that the permission could not be taken for granted and in the absence of any such authorisation, it would be illegal.

D Thara, the director of JNNURM projects in the city, said the elevated corridor would have to be built to facilitate a smooth traffic in the congested area through which it is proposed to pass. She said the AMC is planning to build just a road, and not a heavy structure.

“We are still studying various options,” she said, adding that the necessary permission will be taken from the concerned authorities at an appropriate time. Talks with the railway authorities will also be held to work out the suitable time for the closure of the road for carrying out the construction work, she said.