New Delhi, Jan 20 (PTI) Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena on Saturday visited the Mughal-era Shalimar Bagh and directed the DDA to chalk out a road map for the redevelopment and restoration of the historic complex in coordination with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), an official statement said.

After taking stock of the situation on ground, Saxena directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to draw up a road map for the redevelopment, restoration and rejuvenation of the "hitherto lying neglected" historic complex, in coordination with the ASI, the statement said.

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The LG also visited the historic Sheesh Mahal in the park, which was the site of coronation of Emperor Aurangzeb in 1658, and also took stock of the gardens, spread over 150 acre, it said.

He instructed the DDA to immediately start works on the restoration of gardens and complete the entire process of redevelopment/rejuvenation within the next six months, it stated.

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Saxena expressed anguish that this architectural beauty of the medieval era was lying in a state of neglect due to apathy of the stakeholder departments/agencies and directed their officials to coordinate with each other for the restoration as has been done in the last one year for many such monuments in the national capital, it said.

The most notable of these has been the Mehrauli Archaeological Park, which has emerged as a new destination in the city, witnessing a footfall of more than 1,500 visitors on a daily basis, it stated.

"The Sheesh Mahal – Shalimar Bagh complex, apart from having restored greens, gardens, repaired monuments, water channels and walkways, will also have a restaurant and other public utilities, once the exercise is completed. Saxena gave specific instructions for rejuvenation of the water body in the complex," the statement said.

Local residents, including people from neighbouring urbanised village, told the LG that huge tracts of the park had been encroached upon and had become a den for criminal activities, it said.

During his two-hour inspection, Saxena asked the DDA and ASI to immediately start cleaning work of the area and explore the remains of water channel leading to the fountain area and restore them. He said that other structures around the monument would also be restored, the statement said.

The park has various facilities, including open gym, nursery and compost plant, lying in a state of disrepair.

It is said that out of many pleasure gardens built by Mughals north of Shahjahanabad, the Shalimar Bagh is known to be the most extensive. The Sheesh Mahal and the Bagh were also the country house of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The site was used as summer lodge during the British time. The Sheesh Mahal Monument and remains of water channel leading to the fountain area are the only visible remnants of that era on site, it added.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)