Tunnel linking Ring Road and Mathura Road may hit ASI hurdle

The area is dotted with Sultanate and Mughal era monuments, including Humayun’s tomb, Nizamuddin’s dargah, Sunder Nursery, Subz Burz and Arab ki Serai, which together form the buffer zone of Humayun’s tomb.

ASI director (exploration & excavation) Jamal Hassan said the PWD has not yet approached it for permission. “The ASI is the nodal agency and, as per our guidelines, no construction is permitted within 100 metres of a protected monument. If the tunnel is more than 100 metres away, then there might not be much of a problem. But, if construction is carried out too close, the vibrations and other damaging impact will be visible on the structures 10 years down the line,” Hassan told Newsline.

Moreover, the proposed tunnel is also expected to pass through the Lutyens’ Bungalow Zone (LBZ), which is scheduled to be reviewed by ICOMOS (International Council for Monuments and Sites) next week. “This tunnel can impact the nomination of LBZ as a World Heritage Site,” Hassan said.

UNESCO chief and programme specialist for culture Moe Chibba agrees. “Though one cannot vouch for it, the proposed tunnel can impact the consideration of ICOMOS for declaring LBZ as a World Heritage Site,” Chibba said.

Ratish Nanda, project director, Agha Khan Trust for Culture, feels professionally prepared studies must be made mandatory for approval of such projects. Under Nanda’s leadership, the restoration work at Humayun’s tomb was carried out — the first-ever privately funded restoration of a World Heritage Site in the country.

“Professionally prepared studies for approval of projects in excess of, say Rs 5 crore, need to be made mandatory. These should include environmental impact assessment, heritage impact assessment, community impact assessment, transport master planning and a public hearing process, among others. Such studies will amply demonstrate the required process in city development,” Nanda said.

“Monuments such as Humayun’s tomb, Purana Qila, Lodhi Gardens, Golf Club, Safdarjung tomb etc., are sacrosanct. After all, how many compromises are seen as glorious or even sensible in the years ahead? Delhi’s traffic problems cannot be solved with more roads – tunnelled or elevated. Policy solutions are required,” he said.

PWD chief engineer (flyovers) Sarvagya Srivastava said the exact location of the tunnel and its distance from various monuments can be commented upon only by the feasibility consultant. Assuring that all guidelines would be followed, he said the PWD was only “trying to find solutions”