Rejuvenate Sovabazar-Kumartuli built heritage while embracing modernisation, urge experts
Times of India | 7 September 2025
Kolkata: Conservation architects, developers, property owners, and citizens from the voluntary initiative Calcutta Heritage Collective (CHC) met on Saturday to reimagine future developments in north Kolkata neighbourhoods while preserving their historical character.
The group appealed to the govt to rejuvenate Sovabazar and Kumartuli, describing them as "vital precincts of contemporary Kolkata" that should maintain their built character.
CHC collaborated with the School of Architecture, CEPT University, Ahmedabad, on the Sovabazar Urban Conservation project. At a seminar-exhibition in the city on Saturday, experts proposed revitalising architecturally significant structures, such as Baneswar Shiv Temple at Kumartuli and old ghats along the Hooghly, as well as historic paras, like Abhay Mitra Street and Kumartuli.
CHC members also advocated for changes in govt policy to preserve the old architectures.
Mukul Agarwal, founder trustee of CHC, said, "We are trying to conserve heritage structures. It is time the govt changed its policy so that heritage conservationists and owners can protect the roots to the past. Many residents cannot maintain the buildings, there should be financial assistance from the govt. Real estate developers also have a big role to play."
CEPT University students, representing different regions of the country, visited Kolkata last year to work on north Kolkata's old structures. Their work included the Kumartuli artisans' cluster and the ghats, including Sovabazar jetty, Mayer Ghat, Baghbazar Ghat and Kashi Mitra Burning Ghat. "As development and modernisation are necessary, these areas will transform but that should not replace the old structures.
Rather, we can reinvigorate these old buildings, many of them in a shabby state now, while drawing up a development plan," said Kaushik Jain, a student from Karnataka. "During our work from July to Dec last year, we shared our perspectives on how to keep north Kolkata's heritage character intact while embracing developments," added Unni Ammu, a student from Kerala.
CHC had earlier taken up restoration of multiple structures, including National Library, Chaitanya Library in Sovabazar and Uttarpara Rajbari, now a govt hospital.
"We are now working on Baneswar Shiv Temple," said Agarwal.
Panellists at the seminar included Vikas Dilawari from Mumbai, conservation architect with 19 Unesco Asia-Pacific awards for cultural preservation to his credit. "Cities, like Kolkata and Mumbai, were the finest cities east of Suez in the 19th century from an architectural and townscape point of view. They are lived-in heritage structures—some uncared for, while others often beautified rather than conserved," he said.