Vadodara MP Ranjan Bhatt proposed to shift the multi-storey building in the historic garden of Pratap Vilas Palace. Housing the only Railway University of India the Palace is now known as The National Academy of Indian Railways. During the zero hours of the Parliament session, the MP made a presentation in mother tongue Gujarati on the construction of the building and facilities at Vadodara Airport.
Ranjan Bhatt said that Vadodara is a civilized, educational, cultural city and Railway Officers from all across the country come here at the Railway Academy situated at Pratapnagar. The Gaekwad family gives the campus and historical Pratap Vilas Palace to the Government and the Railway Board gives training to the officers. Presently a four-story building is taking shape just in front of the heritage palace by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited. As a result, the beauty of the palace will be lost. She requested the authorities to stop the work and shift it to some other place to retain the beauty of the area.
Earlier the Royal Family of Vadodara and Maharaja Fatesingh Museum Trust started an online petition to stop the construction of the multi-storeyed building in the historic garden of the Pratap Vilas Palace. The petition appealed to the citizens of Vadodara to sign it and save the historic building and its grandeur.
The petition states – Disturbingly for the city of Vadodara and it’s Royal Family, a decision has been taken to construct a multi-storey building in the historic Raja Baug or the garden overlooking the Pratap Vilas Palace. This is to accommodate the National Rail and Transportation Institute and other offices. The markings on the ground have begun but construction is yet to start.
A new concrete multi-storey construction right in front of this 106-year- old heritage palace will certainly destroy the facade, landscape, scale, beauty, and history of this landmark of Vadodara. The Pratap Vilas Palace estate also accommodates the ‘Oval Ground’. The same construction can be accommodated on this centrally situated open space. The city has already lost a historic and archeological jewel-like Nazarbaug.
Apart from this, MP Ranjan Bhatt pointed out to increase facilities at Vadodara airport. Vadodara is located between industrial units and the National Highway if Immigration and Hub and Spoke facility at Vadodara Airport is started immediately, it will be easier for thousands of people from Central Gujarat to go abroad. Passengers are currently facing difficulties due to a lack of immigration and hub and spoke facilities at Vadodara Airport.
