CHANDIGARH:Punjab is adding a colour of harmony to the sepia of history and its formidable architectural heritage. This time, the focus is the holy city of Amritsar. In a move to strengthen Punjab’s tourist response and inflow, the state government is all set to restore and spruce up the buzzing Hall Bazaar, the oldest market in the walled city of Amritsar. The old market on the way to the Golden Temple and Jallianwala Bagh, with some 350 buildings will be given a traditional look with porticos, popularly known as the chhajjas in a combination of masonry, woodwork and stones to recreate the heritage look. A food street will also be set up in the holy city on the pattern of the food street in Lahore. A crafts market will be set up, and an open air theatre and a souvenir shop will come up at the heritage site. The project will cost Rs 9 crore and is likely to be completed this year.
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal said, “Our total focus is on projecting Amritsar as the next tourist destination. The passage from the Hall Gate to the Golden Temple will be revamped in a phased manner. The state government stands by its commitment to develop Amritsar into one of the best cities in the world by 2017.”
Hall Bazar was built in late 19th century after the Hall Gate was built by the British to connect the Town Hall with the Railway Station and the Civil Lines area. Most of the gates built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh were rebuilt during the British rule. State Tourism and Culture Minister Sohan Singh Thandal said, “Tenders for the projects will be floated soon. All details have been finalised so that work can begin on ground.”
According to the sources, Rs 100 crore has been already sanctioned by the government. Under the restoration drive, only the facades of buildings from Hall Gate to Golden Temple and back to the walled city exit will be taken up for restoration. The government will take a ‘No Objection Certificate’ from the owners of these buildings. An officer said, “The traditional façades are in a poor state due to lack of maintenance. They are in danger of being demolished and replaced with contemporary popular architecture. The commercial signage is causing a lot of visual chaos since it exists in a variety of sizes, colours and materials besides many illegal hoarding there.”
A report prepared by the government states that the current interface of the shops at the ground level with the street and pedestrian traffic is very chaotic. The government plans to bring visual harmony to the site. The shop fronts will be given a more aesthetic and pleasing appearance. The electricity wires will be concealed underground in order to do away with over head wiring. “New buildings are being constructed in designs and materials which do not befit a heritage precinct of Amritsar. A lot of street furniture, defunct electrical, telephone and street light poles exist on the road. They add to the visual chaos,’’ he said. The traditional facades will be restored.
Fort Front
The State Government has started the process of notifying for declaring the Gobindgarh fort as Preserved Historical Monument. It was previously known as Bhangian Da Kila and has witnessed many historic events associated with the Sikh warrior king, Maharaja Ranjit Singh. It has been through the turmoil of Anglo-Sikh wars due to its strategic location.