[sustran] Experts for brakes on Amritsar’s PRTS plan - Fear project will mar city’s heritage character

[Asija, Navdeep]

*Perneet Singh
Tribune News Service*

Amritsar, July 6
The state government's ambitious PRTS (Personal Rapid Transport System) in
the holy city will eclipse the view of its significant landmarks like
Golden Temple, Jallianwalla Bagh, Town Hall and Hall Gate, besides
adversely affecting the heritage character of the walled city, fear
conservation and architecture experts.

Talking to The Tribune, Prof SS Behl, Dean, Faculty of Physical Planning
and Architecture, GNDU, said, "The PRTS will enter the walled city from the
Hall Gate and will totally eclipse the view of this monumental landmark.
The historic Town Hall, which the government intends to preserve as a
heritage building, will also meet the same fate. Moreover, it will also
block the view of the Jallianwalla Bagh and the main entrance of the Golden
Temple (Ghanta Ghar Gate)." He said the project will take a toll on the
heritage character of the walled city.

"The PRTS will also deprive the pilgrims an opportunity to have a look at
the historic Hall Bazaar as they shall pass overhead and not through the
bazaar," he averred. He says the alignment (pathway) for the PRTS will also
leave an impact on the ventilation and sunlight in the buildings adjoining
it, besides impinging on the privacy of those residing inside. He said the
government should instead explore other options, one of which could be
having the PRTS on the circular road on the periphery of the walled city.
Another option may be removing the encroachments on the main road leading
to the Golden Temple and having dedicated lanes for pedestrians, rickshaws
and private vehicles, he said. The Tribune has also got access to slides
used in the official presentation by the state tourism authorities. These
slides exhibit superimposed view of the walled city areas to give an idea
as to how it will look once the PRTS comes up and it clearly shows that
these landmarks will be eclipsed by the project.

Balvinder Singh, Head, Guru Ram Das School of Planning, GNDU, said the
proposed pathway from Railway Station (Gol Bagh side) to the Golden Temple
passing through Hall Bazaar, Town Hall, Jallianwala Bagh and Chowk Ghanta
Ghar, will alter the traditional layout of the walled city. He said the
PRTS will pose a hurdle in getting the walled city listed among the World
Heritage Cities even though at present the city fulfills almost all
conditions for acquiring this status.

Dr Sukhdev Singh, state convener of INTACH, said the distance being covered
by the PRTS is too short and it would not be of much advantage when
compared to the huge cost the project will entail. Besides, it will disturb
the local habitat for years during its construction phase. "The government
can instead act tough against encroachments and press into service battery
operated vehicles, besides curbing land use from residential to commercial,
which is increasing the traffic chaos in the walled city," he said.

Dr Sukhdev said the government must understand that the people not only
visit the Golden Temple but also go for shopping in markets of the walled
city.

Navdeep Asija, a transportation and road safety expert from Ferozepur, said
the PRTS will mar the entire skyline of the walled city, besides
threatening the business of the trading community. He said it will also
lead to reduction of effective road width which will add to traffic
congestion. Noted social activist Brij Bedi said the government should
launch a crackdown against illegal encroachments and strictly implement
traffic norms instead of contemplating such projects.

"The people are driving vehicles in the city without licence while nobody
bothers about traffic laws. Until such violations are not checked, the
scenario will remain as it is," he said. The government should preserve the
entire stretch from the Hall Gate to the Golden Temple and promote it as an
old world charm, he said

*The city view now and (right) the future look with the prts in place*
*n The Golden Temple entrance*


*n** The Hall Gate area
*

*n The Jallianwala Bagh area*

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120707/punjab.htm#3