Exactly two years after Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) pulled down the front facade of historic Shaukat Mahal, state archaeology is set to undertake restoration of the same. It comes with a rider— the archaeologists have not found a way to re-create the glories arch of Indo-French architecture. 

Directorate of archaeology, archives and museums current proposal will restore front road facing sections of Moti Mahal, Sheesh Mahal and Hameed Manzil. "The proposal has been approved and a tender bid has been allotted. Work should commence in the coming days," said state archaeology's deputy director (technical) KK Barai. The project would cost about Rs 17 lakh. Earlier in July 2015, BMC had pulled down the front facade of the 18th century palace citing threat to public safety on the BRTS corridor below. Conservationists had argued at that time that the move by BMC to pull down the front facade was not the only alternative available. 

In the last two years, conservationists claim that improper intervention by the BMC has made the structure even more dangerous. Heavy rains have not helped matters either and the decision to bring down the front wall of the palace is threatening the structure of the building," said heritage conservationist SM Husain. 

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