JAMMU, Dec 5: Today, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo visited the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex to evaluate the progress of ongoing conservation and protection efforts that have been in place for several years.
During his visit, he was accompanied by the Principal Secretary of Culture, the Secretary of R&B, the Executive Director of the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society, the Deputy Commissioner of Jammu, alongside other relevant officials.
The Chief Secretary toured various heritage buildings within the complex, assessing the conservation activities taking place. He inquired about the society’s future plans for adaptive reuse of the structures following their restoration.
Dulloo urged the Society to expedite their work to ensure timely completion. He stated that heritage restoration is a highly technical endeavor that requires meticulous attention and qualified professionals to achieve successful results.
He called for the preservation of the complex’s original grandeur and its aesthetic appeal worthy of its historical significance. He also visited the renovated Darbar Hall, which is currently home to the Dogra Art Museum, exploring various sections such as the Numismatics Gallery, Jewellery Section, Archaeology Section, and Master Sansarch Gallery, which display a rich collection of historical artifacts.
Dulloo observed the progress in the restoration of notable structures like Raja Ram Singh’s and Raja Amar Singh Palaces, in addition to the Museum building, which is nearing completion and is set to showcase a variety of historically significant antiques.
He also assessed the necessity for developing a multi-story parking facility to enhance visitor convenience, along with the beautification of the courtyard and the establishment of other amenities in collaboration with INTACH.
The Chief Secretary emphasized that, in conjunction with the partially developed areas under a PPP model, the complex is poised to become one of Jammu city’s key tourist destinations.
He assured that there are sufficient funds available for timely completion of the ongoing works and expressed optimism that the current restoration, conservation, and protection efforts would be finalized within the next two years, making the complex an inviting place for visitors.
During the visit, Principal Secretary of Culture, Suresh Kumar Gupta, shared insights on the adaptive reuse plans for the conserved structures and other elements of this extensive project.
He mentioned that significant structures behind the complex, including Rani Charak Mahal and Pink Hall, are intended to be developed under a PPP model. He revealed that the Department has issued tenders for hiring a transaction advisor for this project, which will soon commence.
Executive Director of MMJHS, Deepika Sharma, provided a comprehensive overview of the conservation objectives. She detailed the works completed to date and outlined future reuse plans for various structures, which may serve as display galleries, museums, libraries, and cultural centers.
It was noted that the initial vision document for the conservation of this complex was prepared by INTACH in 2008, followed by an approved comprehensive master plan in 2019.
The complex is categorized into six zones: Public Zone, Knowledge Centre, Interpretation & Collection Galleries, Lifestyle, Experiential Spaces, and Crafts Bazaar.
Under this Master Plan, an estimated expenditure of Rs 144.15 Cr is earmarked for various sub-projects within this heritage complex.
Progress on several sub-projects has already been achieved while others are progressing towards timely completion.
