Development takes a backseat in the zeal to rewrite the history of the erstwhile capital of the Mughal empire and rename its heritage monuments such as the Taj, with many of the city’s development projects caught in purgatory
The proposed site for a rubber check dam on the Yamuna; (Photo: Maneesh Agnihotri)
It was meant to be a grand project, showcasing Mughal-era armour, attire, culture and related memorabilia. But take the red sandstone-topped Shilpgram Road to the eastern gate of the Taj Mahal, past the stone plaque bearing the legend ‘Mughal Museum’ and enter the iron gate adjacent to it, and you step into a dream that has long been abandoned.