Historic stretch in Amritsar cries for attention

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 23

A stretch adjoining historic Kos Minars near Cantonment police station has been crying for attention. The heritage structures (two Kos Minars) right in the middle of the road and potholes had further turned the stretch into an accident prone area.

The problem aggravates, especially during monsoon as rainwater accumulates in potholes, which poses risk to commuters. Due to widening of roads for construction of Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) several years ago, two Kos Minars built in the era of legendry Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh came right in the middle of the road.

As a result, numerous mishaps took place as vehicle rammed into these pillars. Fog would further engulf the area thereby decreasing visibility. The minars were built on the Ajnala-Gobindgarh Fort stretch, now the GT Road. Barring these two mile pillars, others got damaged over the years.

Dr Balvinder Singh, a conservation expert and former head, Guru Ram Dass School of Planning, Guru Nanak Dev University, said the Kos Minars of Mughal era constructed on the Grand Trunk road built by Emperor Sher Shah Suri had been preserved by the Archaeological Survey of India, but those built by legendary ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh faced neglect. He said the best option was to relocate these minars to the roadside. The authorities should also put up a plaque containing information in order to make people aware regarding the importance of these minars.

Jasbir Singh Sodhi of the Public Works Department said shifting of historic structures does come under their purview. He added that recarpeting of the GT Road was due and he would look into the matter.

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