Now Reading: Alumni fear heritage cupolas at Anna University gate may be demolished for road widening
-
01
Alumni fear heritage cupolas at Anna University gate may be demolished for road widening
Alumni fear heritage cupolas at Anna University gate may be demolished for road widening
The Alumni Association of College of Engineering, Guindy (AACEG) has warned that two historic cupolas flanking the main gate of Anna University could be demolished as part of widening Sardar Patel Road.…
The Story in Brief
The Alumni Association of College of Engineering, Guindy (AACEG) has warned that two historic cupolas flanking the main gate of Anna University could be demolished as part of widening Sardar Patel Road. The AACEG said it learnt the structures, built in the early 1900s, interfere with the proposed road alignment and may be removed.
The cupolas are replicas of the central dome of the CEG main building and are integral to the heritage entrance, the alumni said. AACEG treasurer Humayun Kabir said structural engineers at Anna University assured him relocation was possible by shifting the cupolas 15 feet inwards. He added that oral assurances from the university registrar have been received but no concrete plan has been shared.
The Indian Opinion
The narrative that development must bulldoze heritage is lazy. Road widening need not erase history. Relocation of the cupolas is feasible, according to engineers quoted by the alumni. The question is whether the authorities possess the will, and the budget, to execute a careful move rather than a quick demolition. The real test will be the next public statement from the highways department: will it commit to preservation or stay silent? Chennai has lost enough landmarks to traffic.
Source: thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
