No map no Rajbari repair

THE non availability of the original architectural design of the century old Ujjayanta Palace has pushed back the proposed reconstruction works to make it resistant to earthquake though engineers have tried to trace the design from the company’s archive which constructed it in 1901.

After the earthquake in Gujarat in January 2001, the state government identified the building as vulnerable to earthquake and decided to seek expert opinion to save the heritage monument. According to sources, the century old building spread over sprawling half square kilometre and the only existing palace in the North East has developed certain defects in it’s structure and unless repaired may posses a threat during earthquake.

Acting upon the advice of the world’s leading expert in structural engineering and technology, Prof A S Arya, Head of the Department of Earthquake Engineering branch, Indian institute of Technology, Roorkee, the state sought the help of the Martin and Burn Company which constructed it in 1901.

“But, the original map and design of the building which they traced out from their archive however did not match with the existing building which suggests that either the construction deviated from the basic designing or may be the original map lost or damaged “, sources observed.

Accordingly, the state sought the help of Building Material Technology and Planning Council (BMTPC) which agreed to draw the fresh map of the existing building through observation and test of samples, sources said adding that T M Gupta, Managing Director,

BMTPC and Secretary, Urban Development Ministry has also agreed to look into the matter personally. Meanwhile, Earthquake Engineering branch of IIT,Roorkee led by Prof D K Paul has also agreed to conduct ‘Site Specific Earthquake Parameter ‘ tests in and around the building so as to probe it’s vulnerability to earthquake. Sources said, the state government has also paid in advance Rs 4.2 lakh for the test. But, there is delay for the reasons best known to the experts.

Though there are many other buildings in the list like the Tripureshwari temple,  Bhubaneswari temple, Neermahal, MBB College and the Umakanta Academy, but the state has taken care of the Umakanta academy and MBB College on its own. ”Once we get technical know hows on the Ujjayanta Palace, we go for the Neermahal and Bhubaneswari temple to prevent them from ruins”, sources pointed out.

It may be mentioned here that, the Palace, modern edifice of the royal house of Tripura was built with a mixed type of architecture with high domes with the central dome of 86 feet high mould in lime mortar. A part of the building houses the Tripura Legislative Assembly whereas the other part is used by the descendants of the Manikya kings.