Heritage Building Demolished for Guwahati Riverfront Development

Quick Summary

• The Mahafezkhana, a 150-year-old colonial-era Assam-type building in Guwahati, was demolished by the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) for the Brahmaputra riverfront project.
• Built between 1855 and 1865 during British administration, it housed maps, administrative orders, and land records until last year.
• Despite surviving major earthquakes in 1897 (8.3 magnitude estimated) and 1950 (~8.6 magnitude),the structure was dismantled in phases starting last year as part of a Rs 300 crore riverfront expansion initiated in 2003.
• Citizens expressed outrage over the destruction of this heritage site; filmmaker Utpal Borpujari denounced it on social media, suggesting it could have been preserved or repurposed into a museum-café.
• GMDA’s own publication “Forever Guwahati” previously praised the past significance of Mahafezkhana as one of two buildings surviving a massive earthquake due to its robust design wiht 20-inch-thick walls.

!Heritage structure razed to make way for Guwahati riverfront project

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Indian Opinion Analysis

The demolition of mahafezkhana highlights an ongoing debate between urban development and preserving heritage structures in India. While infrastructure projects like the Brahmaputra riverfront aim to modernize cities and improve public spaces, they often risk erasing invaluable historical markers that showcase architectural resilience and cultural legacy.

The outcry over losing such historic assets underscores public sentiment about acknowledging India’s past while pursuing progress.Filmmaker Utpal Borpujari voiced concerns about missed opportunities to creatively repurpose heritage sites without halting development-a concept globally seen through adaptive reuse strategies like conversions into museums or cultural centers.

GMDA’s recognition of Mahafezkhana’s importance in its own publication strengthens calls for better preservation policies that balance modernization with heritage conservation efforts. This situation might encourage authorities nationwide to evaluate how similar projects can harmonize future growth with safeguarding India’s architectural history moving forward.