Plan to use chemicals to restore Gateway’s sheen

MUMBAI: The state archaeological department has proposed chemical treatment to restore the sheen of the yellow Kharodi basalt stones of the Gateway of India.
“The structural stability audit of the arch does not need to be carried out as it had been done it about eight years ago,” said Tejas Garge, head, state archaeology department. But algae on the stones and in surface cracks have to be removed, and stones that have turned black due to salinity need to be cleaned using chemical treatment, he added. Plant growth on the monument is removed annually.

On Thursday, governor Vidyasagar Rao had announced the setting up of a panel headed by the municipal commissioner, who along with conservation architects, has been directed to prepare a plan for cleaning the monument and sprucing up the area around it within a month.

“The jetty needs to be shifted towards Radio Club which will immediately ease the pressure of visitors around the Gateway. There is a need for a movement plan (vehicular and pedestrian) and information boards,” said Garge. “Around a fortnight ago, we had assigned the task of preparing a site management plan within three months to conservation architect Abha Narain Lambah. We will now await the municipal commissioner’s directives.”

The plan would also require coordination between various agencies including BMC, police, Mumbai port trust, Maharashtra Maritime Board and the state archaeological department. A senior civic official said while the archaeology department will decide on cleaning and restoring the monument, the BMC will plan for the plaza, including traffic and pedestrian movement. There would be no new installations, said the official. tnn