New Delhi: The Gateway of India has turned out to be a cause of concern as the 100-plus year old iconic structure, overlooking a stretch of Arabian Sea in Mumbai, has developed cracks on its surface.
A structural audit report issued by the archaeological department shows cracks along the façade with vegetative growth in them and damage to the waterproofing and reinforced cement-concrete in the Gateway of India’s domes. The state’s directorate of archaeology and museums has also submitted a restoration proposal of around Rs 6.9 crore to the Maharashtra government.
The Cultural affairs minister Sudhir Mungantiwar has assured that an amount of about Rs 8 crore has been proposed for the repair of the Gateway of India and soon this amount will be passed.
The archaeology department had made a presentation to the minister showing the finishing of mortar joints between bricks or the other masonry elements has deteriorated, and past abrasive cleaning has pitted the stone, leading to sulphate accretions and algae.
The inspection of Gateway of India was jointly held by the archaeology department and conservation architect Abha Narain Lambah, and the detailed project report has been prepared by Lambah.
Notably, officials of the department said efflorescence was also seen in the structure.
According to Tejas Garge, director of the Maharashtra archaeology department, the cracks and deterioration were inspected jointly by the Ratnagiri region director and the architect. The last repair work on the monument was carried out in 2006, he added.
Apart from the conservation of the monument, the proposal addresses the surrounding pathway, the steps leading to the water and the railings and bollards.
This is a project being looked at holistically by taking all the stakeholder government agencies on board, Lambah said.
The structure is owned by MbPT, the maintenance is done by the archaeological department and the area around is looked after by the BMC.