NEW DELHI: Behind the imposing Lahori Gate and and its red sandstone walls, Shahjahan's Red Fort hides more than it shows. Only one-fourth of its architectural marvels is open to visitors at present. But two years down the line, you may get to see more of the monument if the ongoing Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan (CCMP) for the fort works out.
Red Fort to reveal its secrets
The list of "out-of-bounds" spaces inside the monument includes Salimgarh Fort, Asad Burj, the baolis and Royal baths (hamams) of Mughal emperors, a portion of the fortification wall and several gardens.
"What you are permitted to see inside Red Fort are five main buildings — Chhata Bazaar, Naubat Khana, Diwan-i-Am, Lahori Gate and Rang Mahal. You may also catch a glimpse of the hamams from outside and the famous Hayat Baksh Gardens. However, this comprises only 25-30 acres of the 120 acres of the fort area," says conservation architect Gurmeet Rai, who along with an ASI team is working on the CCMP.
Following this CCMP, which is expected to be finished by March 2007, a detailed conservation work will be undertaken jointly by the ASI and Rai's team. "We will try to bring out the continuity in 400 years of history embedded in the red stones," said ASI D-G C Babu Rajeev.
The CCMP will address key issues of structural conservation and restoration, landscaping of surrounding areas and hydro-geological concerns, as water seepage is a perennial problem with the monument. "Our work will also include studying the old archives so as to ensure that whatever restoration work is being done is authentic in nature," says C Babu Rajeev.
"But this will take a couple of years, as the CCMP itself will be submitted to the ASI in March 2007 and the physical conservation work will take up another year,'' adds Rai.
Says Mubashir Ui Malik, a conservation architect in the team: ''Once the physical conservation, including the detailed mapping, drainage, hydrological system and services are studied and restored, visitors will have access to more of Red Fort."
He adds: "Structures like Asad Burj and Shah Burj — the two water outlet gates which have a triangular courtyard — will be opened to public. Besides, parts of the boundary wall facing Salimgarh Fort, Ring Road and the Delhi Gate will also be opened up."
The plan also suggests the restoration of an old bridge that connects Red Fort to Salimgarh. Experts say, the Salimgarh Fort, in particular, needs to be restored as it forms a vital link between Mughal and colonial history.
Rai feels the biggest challenge for them would be to interpret 400 years of history following the Sepoy Mutiny.
"Before 1857, the Red Fort was a well-documented site, thanks to travellers' accounts, and Mughal and British era texts between 1650s and 1857. Sadly, there is a vacuum after 1857, till 1947. We are trying to collate the layers of history spanning Mughal, colonial and post-colonial periods," she says.
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