Restoration Work Begins on Kasturchand Park Band Stand in Nagpur
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Nagpur, India: Restoration work has officially begun at the historic band stand in Kasturchand Park (KP) after receiving approval from the Heritage Committee. The District Collector allocated Rs 5 crore for the project, which has been entrusted to the Public Works Department (PWD) for completion. The funds were sanctioned from the District Planning Committee (DPC).
This restoration follows a five-year-old visit by High Court judges to the site. In a rare occurrence, Justice R.K. Deshpande and Justice Pushpa Ganediwala from the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court inspected the park to assess whether the government had taken steps to restore the iconic band stand. However, they were disheartened by the poor condition of the site, which led to public criticism.
The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court had taken suo motu cognizance about the deteriorating state of the Grade-I heritage site. The sandstone structure, once a significant attraction, was left in a neglected condition.
Dr. Vipin Itankar, the District Collector, explained that after the High Court’s intervention, the administration had to seek permission from the Heritage Committee to proceed. Once approved, the required funds were allocated, and PWD took charge. "The work has been ongoing for the past two months, focusing on cleaning, beautification, and repairing the fountain. The Heritage Committee has instructed us to preserve the original structure, and PWD is ensuring this," said Dr. Itankar.
The restoration is expected to take around nine months. Skilled artisans from Uttar Pradesh have been brought in to perform delicate work, including scraping, washing, and applying chemical treatments to restore the structure.
The Heritage Committee has strictly prohibited the use of cement during the restoration, in accordance with guidelines set by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). PWD submitted a detailed plan outlining the steps involved in the restoration process.
In recent years, KP has undergone significant changes, including the construction of a metro station and a walking track that disrupted the park’s aesthetic. The band stand, however, had been particularly neglected, with parts of its roof collapsed and no repairs made. The lack of security allowed antisocial elements to further damage the site.
With restoration now underway, there is optimism that Kasturchand Park’s band stand will be restored to its former glory, becoming a cherished landmark in Nagpur once again.
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