Nila Gumbad,Humayun’s Tomb integration plan takes new turn

The Mughal-era monument,abutting the World Heritage Site,has been in a shambles for years now,and with a lingering stalemate over land transfer between the Railways and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI),it is fast losing its tilework.

Despite a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the ASI and Railways on December 9,stating that land approximately 42 m on north and south and about 8 m east of Nila Gumbad be transferred to the ASI for integration with the Humayun’s Tomb Complex,there has been no headway.

The ASI and the Railways had earlier decided that the road running between Nila Gumbad and Humayun’s Tomb will be diverted at a sharp perpendicular turn 42 m from the monument and run along the railway tracks. However,to protect an underground water tank and two large trees,the ASI wrote to the Railways on February 3 for a minor change in the plan — giving the road a softer curve at 73.3 m.

The plan now lies with the Railways and officials said it will have to get fresh approvals from the headquarters. Ashwani Lohani,Divisional Railway Manager,Northern Railways,said: “The re-worked proposal will be forwarded to the headquarters by the end of this week and the change is most likely to be incorporated.”

Officials said the ASI could,meanwhile,begin work on the other end of the monument,where 42 m of land has already been allotted to the ASI. The heritage body,however,is awaiting a reply from the Railways on the preferred location to rebuild the offices and a shed that will be demolished on this land. The ASI is also not too keen on undertaking work on piecemeal basis at the site.

The Nila Gumbad was marked for conservation and development ahead of the CWG,but with the stalemate on the land transfer,the plan had to be dropped.

The Aga Khan Trust for Culture has been working on an integrated urban renewal project in the area that includes development of the Humayun’s Tomb and its buffer zone. Ratish Nanda,Project Director,Aga Khan Trust,told Newsline: “The proposed landscape scheme will allow much needed conservation of the Nila Gumbad and improve vehicular access for goods to the railway station. We continue to await formal approval to commence these urgent works.”

Officials said because of the vibrations of trains running on the adjacent railway tracks,the tiles on the monument have been falling off. To address this an England-based consultant has been engaged to advise on the technology of the new road so that the vibrations are either absorbed or repelled,protecting the monument.