• City-folk are set to receive a new tourist spot with the old DC bungalow being renovated into Brahmaputra River Heritage Centre
• Restored heritage centre will be equipped with a number of new attractions
• The work is nearing completion and is likely to be opened for visitors from next month
• The plan has been undertaken at a project cost of Rs 9.69 crores
• GMDA undertook the restoration work under the aegis of Guwahati Development Department (GDD)
• It will feature open-air theatre, museum, Brahmaputra view points and children’s attraction centre
• Contractors have informed that they have tried to retain the timber and other materials of the original building to the extent possible
The city is soon set to receive a new tourist spot with the old bungalow of the deputy commissioner of the Kamrup (Metro) district being renovated and restored as the Brahmaputra River Heritage Centre by the state government.
Officials informed that the restored Heritage Centre will be equipped with a number of new attractions for the city-folk and that the restoration work is nearing completion.
Sources in the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) informed that the plan has been undertaken at a project cost of Rs 9.69 crores. GMDA undertook the restoration and renovation of the old DC’s bungalow under the aegis of Guwahati Development Department (GDD).
Jagat Ranjan Goswami, the contractor who has been entrusted with carrying out the restoration work, informed G Plus that the original building was made of teak wood and their main aim was to restore the old building to the maximum extent possible.
“Since the building was built during the British era, it was ageing and needed some repairs and restoration works. But we have tried to keep the wood and other materials of the original building as much as possible,” said Goswami.
He added that some new construction has also been taken up inside the building which has been done without disturbing the adjacent building. Further, a new floor has been constructed on top of the old ceiling, using timber and steel which will be made into a children’s attraction centre.
“The height of the ceiling which was built by the British was higher than normal. Our main focus was to keep the framing of the building intact, without using any welding. We have made one more floor on top of the old ceiling without disturbing the original ceiling,” informed Goswami.
Authorities said that the ground floor will host a museum on Brahmaputra and will have a garden. This apart, an open-air theatre has also been constructed where cultural activities can take place.
Amitabh Borthakur, project engineer of the GMDA informed G Plus that chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal will inaugurate the centre; however, the date has not been fixed till now.
“The works are currently ongoing and should be finished soon but the date has not been decided as yet,” he said.
Additionally, next to the main building, another building has been constructed which is made almost entirely of glass in order to provide an unobstructed view of the Brahmaputra. On the ground floor, a cafeteria is being built which is almost complete.
Further, the top floor of the Brahmaputra River Heritage Centre will house a VIPseating area which will have the view of the open-air theatre.
Along the banks of the Brahmaputra, two platforms have also been constructed for visitors. These will function as view points for the river. The Brahmaputra River Heritage Centre will also have other facilities including car parking and visitor ticket counter.
The British-era building, located in Panbazar, will likely be made open to the public by next month, informed sources.
According to authorities, the restoration work of the old DC’s building began in December 2014. However, due to money disbursement problems, the work got stalled for some time during the tenure of the last government.
Recounting the history and cultural significance of the Brahmaputra River Heritage Centre, former professor of History at Gauhati University, Dr Sheila Bora, said that any building or monument which is old holds a historical significance.
“The British had built a line of buildings along the Brahmaputra from the strategic point of view. Since they were built during that era, they become heritage sites owing to the style in which they were built and the material and natural resources which were used while constructing the building,” said Dr Bora.
She added that the decision of the state government to conserve the heritage centre was a good initiative.
