LAHORE: The Conservation Wing of the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) completed the surveys of Bhatti Gate trail leading up to Tibbi Thana on Friday. This was the first step to start the conservation of the area and a PC-1 of Rs 982.35 million has been prepared which will be sent to the Local Government Department Punjab for approval. The total area of Bhatti Gate to Tibbi Thana project is approximately 279,290 square metres in addition to almost 3,300 properties on this trail of which most are of high architectural merit and almost age back to 100 years. A survey and documentation of the entire trail was conducted by the Conservation team in order to prepare PC-1 and make the cost analysis. The survey included the documentation of all the properties which included the vacant plots, open spaces, educational spaces, industrial units, religious sites and commercial and residential units. A total number of 194 heritage properties were identified during the survey out of which almost 35 were of high heritage merit. The architecturally rich buildings and their land use has also been documented in the survey on the basis of which the PC-1 for the Bhatti Gate to Tibbi Thana has been prepared. It was further learnt that during the survey, four catchment areas, according to existing condition of sewerage flow, were identified on this trail and on the basis of these catchment areas, the project has been divided accordingly into four phases. Bhatti Gate was one of the most important gates of the Walled City of Lahore and it was once the hub of all the literary and performing arts activities. According to history, Bhatti was one of the two oldest entry points to the Walled City which controlled the north-south thoroughfare during Ghaznavid time. It is said that the real name of the gate was Bhutti gate as it was the point where Bhutti Warriors of Multan camped before the arrival of Mughals. With the passage of time, people started calling it Bhatti but some books say that the gate was the capital of the Emperor Raja Bhatti in ancient times and was named after him. Some historical references are that the name of this gate is also due to the settlement of Bhatti Clan who lived there for centuries and some of them are still there. According to a tourist guide of the area Muhammad Javed, many eminent personalities of the subcontinent and Pakistan also lived in Bhatti Gate which included Allama Iqbal, Gamma Pehalwan, Muhammad Rafi, Mian Abdul Rashid Kardar, Ali Bux Zahoor, Mirza Adeeb, Abdul Hafiz Kardar, Maulana Rohi, Maulana Zafar Ali Khan, Hassa Pehalwan, Maulana Muhammad Hassan Jalandhri, Sir Abdul Qadir, Sir Shahabuddin, Sir Muhammad Shah Din, Sir Muhammad Shafi, Faqeer Iftikharuddin, Muhammad Tufail, Agha Hashr, Fasihul Mulk, Daag Dehlvi, Chaudhry Barkat Ali, Nazeer Chaudhry, Justice Muhammad Latif and many more. Muhammad Javed added, “Bhatti Gate has many historic houses and bazaars as well and to name a few are Bazaar-e-Hakeeman, house of Allama Iqbal, Oonchi Masjid, Moti Tibba, Sheesh Mahal Ghatti, Tibi Qutb Khana, legendary singer Muhammad Rafi’s house, Faqir Khana Museum, Imam Bargah of Sayeeda Mubarik Begam and Naqsh School of Arts.” WCLA Conservation & Planning Director Najam Saquib said, “The works to be carried out during the rehabilitation of Bhatti Gate Trail leading up to Tibbi Thana would include facade rehabilitation of main roads, historic properties, street surfacing and pavements, water supply system, sewerage system, storm water drainage system, sui gas, electrical works and telecom. We will be working on the similar pattern of Royal Trail and the rehabilitation would give back its original look and feel. We will be taking the ugly hanging wires underground and the transformers will also be replaced. We aim to provide the best infrastructure facilities for the residents of the area and improve the façade of the ages old heritage buildings and other properties as well. According to the survey and documentation almost Rs 982.35 million would be required to rehabilitate the trail and as soon as the PC1 is approved we will go into the tender process and immediately start the work.” WCLA Director General Kamran Lashari said, “Bhatti Gate is one of the most important gates of old Lahore and it needs immediate attention. It has the potential of being the hot spot of tourism and once the trail is restored we will start well organised tourism activities there.” Published in Daily Times, December 1st 2018.