Maintain city's heritage at all cost during metro work: Vasundhara Raje

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje today directed the Jaipur Metro to maintain the heritage of the city at all cost and said any historical artefacts found during the digging should be kept at the museum here.

After hours of review of Jaipur Metro Corporation's ongoing project, Raje today said this as she okayed the construction of Phase-I B underground in the walled city. Jaipur's heritage specially of Chandpole, Choti Chaupar, Bari Chaupar and a number of historic monuments should be maintained at all cost, while digging the metro rail underground in its phase-I B, she told while holding a high-level meeting of officials of all concerned departments here.

Any historical material if found during digging in the 2.7 km-stretch between Chandpole and Bari Chaupar should be videographed, and kept at the Albert Hall (city museum), and extra vigilance and security be taken up on priority during civil works, for citizens living in the walled city, Raje said.

There should not be any human loss during the civil works and this should be ensured at all levels, she said, adding the historians or archaeological experts be consulted for any help. Jaipur Metro Corporation's CMD, Nihal Chand Goyal, apprised and assured the Raje that no slackness or carelessness would be tolerated at any level during the said phase which would be completed in 2018.

First phase of metro from Mansarovar to Chandpole would most probably be operational by August end, Goyal said. Phase-I B's would cost around Rs 1026 cr, according to the PRO of the JMC.