This story is from August 20, 2019

Top cop’s tweet fuels revival hopes for dilapidated British-era Bangalore Gate

Bangalore Gate, a British-era structure lying in a shambles inside the City Armed Reserve compound in Chamarajpet, is likely to be restored.
Top cop’s tweet fuels revival hopes for dilapidated British-era Bangalore Gate
Bangalore Gate (File Photo)
BENGALURU: Bangalore Gate, a British-era structure lying in a shambles inside the City Armed Reserve compound in Chamarajpet, is likely to be restored.
Several heritage enthusiasts have demanded the structure be protected, after police commissioner Bhaskar Rao recently tweeted about it. Bangalore Gate, according to historians, used to be a chowki of sorts to keep tabs on the movement of people into Bengaluru from the Mysuru side.
“Can anyone recommend a Heritage Architect who can help me restore this early 18 Century Bangalore Gate located in our City Armed Reserve Compound In Chamrajpet...
(sic),” tweeted the top cop on Sunday evening.

The tweet got over 1,600 likes and was retweeted close to 500 times by Monday evening, besides eliciting several recommendations about people and agencies who will be able to renovate the structure.
According to SK Aruni, historian and deputy director, southern regional centre of Indian Council of Historical Research, it’s an important city monument. “I think the structure was built in the early part of the 20th century. It may have been constructed after Chamarajpet, the city’s first planned enclave, was developed. In a way, at that time, it was like a border-marking point for the city. It was like a police outpost to track people’s movement in and out of Bengaluru. Local administration should take up its restoration,” he added.

Yashaswini Sharma, an architect and urban historian, said, “It (Bangalore Gate) is a small structure and has openings with modified arches with triple shoulders in the fan-light section. It is topped by a cloister dome.”
Responding to Rao’s tweet, several netizens suggested the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach), a non-profit, be involved in the restoration. A member of INTACH Bengaluru chapter said that they had earlier done some documentation pertaining to Bangalore Gate. “We are planning to meet the police commissioner in a couple of days,” he added.
Commissioner Rao later tweeted, “I am spellbound with the outpouring of help and guidance am getting from all of you, I will immediately seek Government permission and take help from all of you (sic).”

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