Though AMC had floated a tender for repair of Ellisbridge, it continues to be neglected while pvt initiatives ensure upkeep of some monuments
Ahmedabad has bagged the coveted ‘heritage city’ tag and it’s time for celebrations. But, it’s also a good time to do a reality check. If several heritage monuments in the city are in good shape today, it’s owing to privately funded initiatives that ensured the city’s history was kept alive. On the other hand, the AMC’s efforts to repair the 125-year-old Ellisbridge are yet to take off.
Seven years ago, Khadia Itihas Samiti along with the members of Desai ni Pol took it upon themselves to restore and repair heritage monuments and temples in the ‘pol’. They managed to restore structures like Akha Bhagat no otlo (residence of the famous 17th century Gujarati poet), the 300-year-old Hatkeshwar Temple belonging to the Maratha period, some bird-feeders etc.
“We started collecting money through crowd-funding to restore Hatkeshwar Temple and managed to raise Rs25 lakh. Akha Bhagat no otlo was also restored through crowd-funding,” said Dr Hemant Bhatt, member of the samiti.
With the city in the ‘heritage city’ bracket, locals hope they can do more work. “I had sent a proposal to paint all ‘pol’ houses in a uniform colour long back. Let’s see how things move with international recognition,” remarked Dr Bhatt.
One of the city’s famous haveli, Zaveri ni Haveli, was also repaired without government help. “Family members and architect Rajesh Desai carried out restoration of Zaveri ni Haveli seven years ago,” said Bharat Zaveri.
While the efforts of citizens have paid off, one wonders about the fate of structures that authorities have taken up.
The 125-year-old Ellisbridge, a landmark in the city, is in a rickety condition. Even after announcement for its repair, the bridge continues to be neglected. The civic body, in its budget for 2016-2017, had allocated Rs5 crore and a tender was even floated. But, nothing moved after that.
Mayor Gautam Shah said the bridge would be repaired as soon as possible. In early 2016, thieves had stolen the bridge’s iron rods, dating back to the British era.
AMC’s week-long celebrations cut short
In the wake of the terror attack on Amarnath pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday night, the civic body has cancelled its ongoing week-long programme to celebrate the recently acquired World Heritage City status. After the announcement by mayor Gautam Shah, the celebrations had begun from Sunday but cancelled from Tuesday as seven Gujaratis were killed in the attack.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Ellisbridge")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}