CHANDIGARH: Punjab Government has under taken various projects for the conservation of heritage buildings and monuments in the state. As per these initiatives Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board is undertaking conservation and re-use of Gobindgarh Fort at Amritsar. Under this project landscape development and monument lighting of Gobindgarh Fort is being done with the estimated cost of Rs 12.84 crore.
· RS.8.24 Crore landscaping project to enhance the aesthetic outlook of the Fort.
· RS4.60 Crore monument lighting to attract tourist.
Disclosing this here today Mr. Sarwan Singh Phillaur Cultural Affairs Minister, Punjab said that Rs.8.24 crore landscaping project shall enhance the aesthetic outlook and environment of the Gobindgarh Fort and shall attract tourists from all over India. Mr. Phillaur said that the landscape will be done in the Avenue which includes the entry area from the main road to the fort outer gate is the Avenue area. Shrubs which would require low maintenance but are pruned to shape would be specifically chosen for this purpose. A row of green foliage shrubs and a layered plantation on non-flowering but leafing shrubs – both big and small would demarcate the vehicular and pedestrian areas.
Minister added the next area is Moat Area which covers a deep broad ditch for defence purposes of the fort. The objective of the moat design is to open it up as a safe, green space for the local community of Amritsar city and the tourists throughout the year. The landscape of the moat would make it a visual treat to the visitor. The landscape design in the Moat area would highlight the important features with in the zone like the remains of historic water channel and tunnel, fort wall, smaller bastions and remains of ravelin wall. The landscape elements introduced here would bind the features mentioned and showcase them as part of the fort complex belonging to the Sikh period. The landscape will include red stone paved paths, lawns, shrubs and trees. The landscaped areas shall also have lights and pause points with seating in between.
Mr. Phillaur said that inside the fort area around the buildings of Toshakhana, Shastra Ajaib Ghar, Khas Mahal and Darbar Hall paving will be done and the rest of the area will be lawns with seating facility for the visitors. Minister further said that with an estimated cost of Rs4.60 crores all the buildings inside the Gobindgarh Fort, gates and moat wall shall be provided with monument lighting which will enhance the visual affect of the Fort during night time and attract large number of tourists visiting Amritsar.