Jammu, Dec 5
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary on Thursday visited Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex in Jammu to take on a spot assessment of the progress made on the works of conservation and protection going on for the last few years.
The Chief Secretary went around different heritage buildings of the complex and took cognisance of the conservation works being carried out there. He enquired about the subsequent plans of the society for adaptive reuse of the structures after their restoration. He also emphasised the need for the society to further pace up the work to complete the same within a minimum timeframe. He maintained that the restoration of heritage is quite a technical task that demands due diligence and highly professional manpower to accomplish. He directed the team to restore the original magnificence of the complex while preserving its aesthetic appeal befitting its past glory.
During his visit, he went inside the renovated Darbar Hall, currently hosting the Dogra Art Museum, where he observed different sections, including the Numismatics Gallery, Jewellery Section, Archaeology Section, and Master Sansarch Gallery, viewing the historical repository of artefacts on display. He also took note of the progress made in restoration works being carried out in structures like Raja Ram Singh’s and Raja Amar Singh Palaces, as well as the Museum building, which is soon going to be completed to host an array of historically valuable antiquities proposed for different parts of this monument.
Additionally, he assessed the need for developing a multi-story parking lot for visitor convenience, along with beautifying the courtyard and creating other amenities in consultation with INTACH. The Chief Secretary expressed confidence that together with the part developed under PPP mode, the complex is poised to become one of the prominent tourist spots in Jammu city. He stated that there is no shortage of funds to complete the work on time and exuded hope that the current restoration, conservation, and protection efforts would be accomplished in the next two years to make this complex an attractive place to visit.
During this visit, the Principal Secretary of Culture informed about plans for adaptive reuse of the conserved structures alongside other aspects of this mega project. He revealed that the grand structures behind the complex, including Rani Charak Mahal and Pink Hall, are set to be developed in a PPP mode. The Department has invited bids for hiring a transaction advisor for this purpose, and work on this project will soon commence.
The Executive Director of MMJHS provided an overview of the aims and objectives of conservation for this complex. She detailed the works carried out so far and explained future reuse plans for various structures to be utilized as display galleries, museums, libraries, and cultural centers. It was noted that the first vision document for conservation was prepared by INTACH in 2008, followed by a comprehensive master plan approved in 2019. The complex is zoned into six areas: Public Zone, Knowledge Centre, Interpretation & Collection Galleries, Lifestyle, Experiential Spaces, and Crafts Bazaar. Under this Master Plan, an amount of Rs 144.15 Cr is allocated for various sub-projects of this heritage complex. Some sub-projects have already been completed, while work on others is progressing to ensure timely completion.