ASI opposes walkway within regulated area of Old Fort

The much-touted hanging foot overbridge coming up on Mathura Road-Bhairon Road near Purana Qila for the Commonwealth Games has run into a roadblock after the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) opposed its construction.

The ASI has issued a notice to the Delhi Integrated Multi-modal Transit Service (DIMTS), a special purpose vehicle created by the Delhi government to implement its transport schemes for the Games, to stop work as the site falls within the regulated area of Purana Qila, a Centrally protected monument.

A new amendment in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act 2010 states ‘any person who owns any building, structure or land in a regulated area and desires to carry out any construction, repair or renovation’ has to make an application to the National Monuments Authority (NMA). The regulated area of a protected monument extends up to 300 m - the first 100 m is the prohibited area, while the remaining 200 m is the regulated area.

ASI officials maintained that a notice was sent earlier to the DIMTS to stop construction but the body refused. The ASI then pasted a copy of the notice at the site. Construction, however, has not stopped.

The NMA is, meanwhile, yet to be instituted. The body will comprise a ‘whole-time’ chairperson (to be appointed by the President), the Director General of ASI as ex-officio member and other full-time and part-time members (not exceeding five each).

“We have received the notice and are examining it. We will have to see what it implies, only then can we respond. Work at the site has not been stopped yet,” a DIMTS spokesperson said.

DIMTS had taken up the work for the Public Works Department (PWD) and planned landscaping and installing of street furniture in the area. The walkway is being constructed to link Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, a Commonwealth Games venue, to the parking area at Purana Qila. According to DIMTS, the walkway is the largest single-span bridge — a hanging bridge without any support in the middle — in the city and is specially designed to allow a good view of the Purana Qila.

The Rs 3.53-crore project will be able to accommodate 5,000 users per hour, against the usual capacity of 1,000 people per day for a normal foot overbridge.