Conservation of city gates completed by 80 pc

Aurangabad, April 2:

The Aurangabad Smart City Development Corporation Limited (ASCDCL) had undertaken the conservation and beautification works of nine heritage gates of the city through the Smart City fund. The estimated cost of the works is Rs 3.20 crore and the target is to complete by March 2021. Meanwhile, the ASCDCL is hopeful that it would meet the target as 80 per cent of the works have been completed.

The ASCDCL has appointed INTACH as the project management consultant for the task. The ASCDCL's Sneha Bakshi is the project manager. Earlier, the ASCDCL faced some inconvenience due to the lockdown, but it resumed the works with speed. Of all the gates, the works of seven gates are going on in full swing. The work of Kala Darwaza is expected to start next week, while the structural audit of Mehmood Darwaza is underway by the experts. Its work will start after receiving the audit report. It may be noted that one truck had dashed this gate during last week.

It may be noted that after completion of all the conservation works of these gates, the ASCDCL has plans to illuminate these heritage structures permanently and put displays (like name of gates and cultural information boards).

The present status of works of each gate includes Naubat Darwaza - 60 per cent, Khizri Gate - 80 pc, Jaffar Gate - 85 pc, Paithan Gate - 70 pc, Roshan Gate - 80 pc, Katkat Gate - 70 pc, Barapulla Gate - 60 pc and Clock Tower (Shahgunj) - 65 pc.