The Hindu : ASI bid to revive a `forgotten' city

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 20, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

ASI bid to revive a `forgotten' city

By Mandira Nayar

NEW DELHI, JAN. 19. The first city of Delhi - Qilla Rai Pithora— that has been "forgotten" for long will soon come alive if the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has its way. Having spent more than two years conserving the wall of Qilla Rai Pithora running along Press Enclave Road, the ASI is now planning to open an interpretation centre at the site to inform people of this "lost" heritage.

"The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) had constructed a conservation centre which they handed over to us recently. We wanted to put the space to the best possible use and it was decided that an interpretation centre should be set up.

This centre will encompass everything about the history and information about the seven cities of Delhi, but there will be a special focus on Qilla Rai Pithora. Most people are unaware of this city and hopefully this interpretation centre will help them learn more about this area,'' says a senior ASI official.

A mammoth project, it involved excavation as well as conservation of the crumbling Qilla Rai Pithora Wall, according to the ASI.

While ASI officials have managed to make visible the wall hidden behind vegetation, there is still a lot to accomplish, they feel. "The wall was just a heap of earth. The remains of the wall were scattered all over the place, so our first task was to consolidate it. Now we plan to develop the area by having a bit of landscaped green in front of the wall. Appropriate signages will also be put up so that people can identify the area,'' says a senior ASI official.

While nothing has been finalised, entry to the site interpretation centre might be ticketed. And with the first floor of the Qutab Minar and the interpretation centre scheduled to open to the public by the end of February, Delhiites will have a lot of "new'' attractions to look forward to in this area.

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