Dont demolish 133 year old Seshadripuram Police Station
24 Feb 2024
Chief Secretary of Karnataka,
Vidhana Soudha
Bangalore 560001
Email:
Dear Dr Rajneesh:
Subject: Cease proppsed demolition of the 133-year-old Seshadripuram police station
I am writing to express my deep concern about the proposed demolition of the 133-year-old Seshadripuram police station in Bangalore. This historic building, one of the oldest police stations in the city, holds significant cultural and historical value, and its destruction would be a loss not only for the community but also for the city's heritage.
The police commissioner's statement that the building does not enjoy 'Heritage status' and therefore can be demolished is alarming. This perspective ignores the fact that many buildings in Bangalore, including government ones, lack formal heritage designation but are still invaluable to the city's history and identity .
There are many examples including the famed Janatha Bazar/Asiatic Building to be replaced by a mall, which we managed to save in time .,
The demolition of the Seshadripuram police station would be another blow to Bangalore's rapidly eroding heritage. We have already lost several historic police stations, including the one at High Grounds. If this trend continues, we risk losing more iconic buildings, such as the Carlton House, to the relentless march of urban development. It is not just the police but many govt departments who occupy heritage spaces across the city that need to be addressed.
I urge the government to intervene in this matter and ensure that the overdue heritage conservation committee is expedited to notify all such spaces, and advise on decisions regarding heritage spaces. It is essential to bring all concerned departments together to discuss alternatives to demolition and to prioritize the preservation of Bangalore's cultural heritage.
The Seshadripuram police station's demolition would not only erase a piece of history but also contribute to the homogenization of the city's landscape. Therefore on an immediate basis , I request that the government consider the long-term implications of this decision and take immediate action to protect this historic building. Thank you in advance for your kind attention and action.
Sincerely,
Priya Chetty-Rajagopal
The Seshadripuram Police Station building, which is 133 years old, is being demolished to make way for a new building, triggering a debate not only over conservation of heritage buildings in the city, but also the criteria for designating any building as a ‘heritage’ one.
Links
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/historic-seshadripuram-police-station-to-be-razed-but-is-it-a-heritage-building/article69254627.ece/amp/
https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/crime/brand-new-police-stations-and-one-heritage-building/amp_articleshow/117033092.cms
https://x.com/heritagebeku/status/1897632604699894037?s=46&t=nTff7pmuuJSuQ9iQ5gNZ0w
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