The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has taken action against a private firm for allegedly carrying out unauthorized construction work at the historic Raigad Fort in Maharashtra. The Mumbai circle of the ASI has issued a formal notice to the Pune-based company that operates the fort's ropeway, citing serious violations of the permissions granted for development at the site.
Notice Served for Concrete Violations
According to Abhijit Ambekar, the Superintending Archaeologist of ASI's Mumbai circle, the permission granted to the ropeway operator was strictly to facilitate visitors at the upper station. However, the firm has reportedly built concrete structures with solid walls that deviate significantly from the approved drawings. "The structures are clearly not built in line with the drawings approved," Ambekar stated, confirming that the illegal construction occurred after October. The ASI has sought further directives from its central office for appropriate action against the firm.
Heritage Concerns and Political Criticism
The issue gained prominence after Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati, President of the Raigad Development Authority and a descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, publicly criticized the ASI. He highlighted the construction of a café and a palace-like hotel structure at the fort, contrasting it with the pending proposals for the conservation of the fort's historic edifices.
"The fort witnessed the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which was the first dawn of India's Independence," Sambhajiraje said. He expressed frustration that while his efforts to build a protective canopy at the Rajsadar and Nagarkhana have been stalled for five to seven years despite available records, private firms seem to get a free hand. "The illegal structures that deface the beauty of the fort are deliberately ignored," he alleged.
UNESCO World Heritage Status Under Threat
The timing of this violation is particularly sensitive. Raigad Fort was recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the 'Maratha Military Landscapes'. Sambhajiraje, a former Rajya Sabha MP, warned that continued illegal construction could jeopardize this prestigious recognition. "UNESCO may withdraw the recognition of the forts if the illegal structures keep dotting the forts," he cautioned, underscoring the global implications of local negligence.
Raigad Fort, the 17th-century capital of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's Swarajya, is a major tourist destination. It receives between 400,000 to 500,000 visitors annually. Access to the fort is either via a strenuous 2.5-hour climb from Pachad village or a quick ride on the ropeway, which was commissioned in 1998 and is operated by the Pune-based firm now under scrutiny.
The incident raises critical questions about the balance between tourist infrastructure development and the imperative of preserving India's invaluable historical heritage, especially at sites bearing the UNESCO tag.
