Model Ward 93 - Palace Road Focus
Friday, 11 December 2020
Mr Manjunath Prasad
BBMP Commissioner/Nodal Officer Ward 93
Bangalore
Dear Mr Prasad:
Sub: Palace Trail - Showcase Palace Road in Ward 93 (similar to Church Street) as part of Model Ward Initiative
Thank you for the excellent suggestion in the previous ward committee meeting. The Palace Pearl Trail could be an interesting and visible idea for Vasant Nagar Model Ward plan, in addition to the other more infra based issues that need attention. As we discussed , Palace Road already has a number of sights and heritage highlights so it would be a great start. It would require a very simple set of basics on which we can build additional layers as required or as it grows. Essentially the space from 1 Palace Road right up to Bangalore Palace becomes one single heritage stretch.
We would need to focus on :
· Walkability – we already have wide roads. Pavements and accessibility to be improved
· Easy cycling – Paths where possibly else a drawn cycling lane to help. Parking bays
· Accessible sign boards which have a barcode history of the specific place and its background
· Coordination with stakeholders like DULT , Horticulture (MOUs in place), Major Roads, Smart City, Janagraha, P&T, Tourism etc who become part of this exercise, given their interest, expertise & focus.
· Coordination with multiple agencies like BWSSB, Bescom etc to ensure that maximum Ideas and impact
· Bring in public participation via technology (FlipAR) also so people can move at own pace
· Create more ownership, pride, better footfalls, economic opportunities and better maintained area.
· Places of interest – perhaps with tech enabled digital postcards
o Beau Lieu - Fairmont House , Post Office
o Carlton House
o Karnataka Public Service Comm Office
o Accountant General Office
o Unusual Muneswara Temple opp Hazrat Syed Mosque
o Basaveshwara Statue, Circle and History (sidestep left onto Race Course Rd {with West End, BwSSB Valve room, Poorna Prasad} or turn right to Vidhana Soudha , Raj Bhavan & Cubbon Park )
o Balabrooie (At right Planetarium, Military Park, IG Fountain Park , at further right Registrar Of Coop Society Office, Police Commr Office and Bungalow)
o BWSSB heritage Office on Millers Rd (can step backwards to Police Supdt Office on Millers Rd )
o Chief Secretary Bungalow, Hanuman Temple
o NGMA (Can go right CCIE on right at Cunningham Rd, straight ahead to Seventh Day Adventist Church) )
o Move into Bangalore Palace with full heritage walk.
By starting with the first two points and building up as we go along, I think we would have a wonderful visible crown to our Model Ward. We should just start quickly and build from there. I would be happy to discuss this with you in more detail so we can move forward on this first-of-a-kind Model Ward Initiative.
Thanking You
Yours Sincerely
Priya Chetty-Rajagopal
Ward level Heritage Manifesto
Places matter.
Heritage comprises built, natural and cultural history and it is the duty of the city and its governance, particularly the most microscopic yet most powerful platforms i.e. the Ward Committee to preserve, promote and protect it. Some small funds should also be set aside for education and promotion with others like the Tourism Department. Wards & Corporators have to look at #Heritage along the following lines :
Listing : This is key to any form of ward level heritage preservation. The RMP31 has a listing of all the heritage spaces in the city. The wards should sort the heritage sites applicable to THEIR ward and ensure the concerned authorities are formally aware of the same. Special Heritage zones declared by BBMP should be specifically listed. Students can do this as a school project.
Awareness: Every attempt should be made to have detailed information, write ups and detailing on these heritage spaces, so that the ward and community are made aware of the rich history around their homes. Public information and historians particularly informal storytellers in the community/ward should be encouraged. This further reinforces a sense of belonging.
Protection : A historian, civic minded official can be selected the Ward Heritage Marshall so there is accountability and proper ownership - we are sure that this position will be aspirational. It is also critical for the wards to make all provision with organizations like Intach #HeritageBeku ASI and PWD to ensure that the heritage spaces in the world are protected against disuse, disrepair, vandalism, defacement, interference, encroachment and spatial incongruity. Once the comprehensive list is available , ward committees should do everything they possibly can to ensure they proactively and assertively protect the same. Keeping BBMP and other parastatals posted about the location and preservation needed is important. Any heritage breach should be dealt with strongly and penalties be stringently invoked, so that there is awareness and a strong message on respect for heritage.
Promotion: Each ward must take great pride in the history that is resident by ensuring regular walks, proper signage interface with local schools and colleges, working with RWAs, apartment associations to be guardians or sponsors of each space. Heritage Government offices should have a once in a month walkthrough to help residents appreciate and support it. Children are key.
Integration : The very character of the ward lies imbued in the heritage of each space. Creating spaces around that meld and integrate with the heritage character of its history adds value and tremendous increase in the ward ownership and pride. Given that the spaces of history come from different spaces, religions and perspectives it is a natural way to integrate the community in a more holistic and meaningful way. It can create funding opportunities for the ward too – tourism, guided walks etc .
Restoration & Upkeep : Without scientific upkeep and restoration valuable Heritage can quickly disintegrate irrevocably. Leaning on experts in organisations like #HeritageBeku , ASI & Intach historians and involving government is important. The need to ensure it is done as per global standards will not only ensure a greater sense of community and ownership but also create more footfalls, conversations, tourism and related benefits to the community. PWD must keep heritage standards in work on restoration or in heritage zones. An update on each heritage location should be part of what committees quarterly reviews. They should also be listed on the Wikipedia ward details so that the public is aware.
Funds for specific heritage spaces, could be budgeted by ward , corporates, or via endowments or BBMP Heritage Corpus
Ward Awards : BBMP along with Heritage Beku to encourage applications from wards and ward Heritage marshals who have done extraordinary work in preserving, maintaining, promoting the community heritage by annual awards and special mentions.
We would also encourage Homes or institutions which preserve places of heritage should be recognized in an annual ward event every year. To conclude, annual appraisals and mapping will showcase wards who have preserved their ward heritage as well as all other ward level parameters on water, power, waste, welfare etc, and this is a much desired governance outcome
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