Heritage buildings of the City of Destiny are vanishing gradually and the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage on Sunday took out a ‘walk' from Town Hall on the Beach Road to Madeena Dargah to draw people's attention to protecting these precious historical monuments.
An photo exhibition of heritage buildings of Visakhapatnam was organised at the Town Hall (which is a heritage building) on the Beach Road at which GVMC Commissioner V.N. Vishnu, Visakhapatnam Port Trust Chairman Ajeya Kallam, along INTACH president Rani Sarma with a host of other officials attended flagging off of the Heritage Walk.
“Our aim is to draw the attention of those who matter in the power centre of City Administration and Government to the dire need to protect Town Hall, Madeena Dargah (supposed to be the oldest building in Visakhapatnam – 1257 A.D.) and other such structures,” said INTACH general secretary Paul V. Edward. The team visited the Dutch Cemetery, and Dargah, but was keen on protecting King George VII Market – popularly known as Kurupam Market also, that was built and presented by Rajah of Kurupam, but existed in a dilapidated condition.
The GVMC Commissioner announced a grant of Rs.8.5 lakh to renovate and preserve the Town Hall. The VPT promised to preserve the old Light House at port, while the VUDA was taking care of the one close to VUDA Park. Among the other major heritage structures were Upputeru that once used to be anchoring place for ships, St. John's School and St. Aloysius School.
“We wish to develop Kurupam Market on the lines of Shilparamam protecting its heritage structures, but it is under the control of Endowments Department,” said Mr. Vishnu. Some of the old structures like the building where Dr. Radhakrishnan lived, old DEO's office and some of the landmarks of that era are already lost.
