Cracks found on one the most renowned monuments.- Edited by Aishee Biswas

The Gateway of India, an iconic symbol of Mumbai's heritage, offers a majestic view of the Arabian Sea. However, after more than a century, the condition of this Grade-I heritage monument has become a cause for concern.

The results of a recent structural audit conducted on the Gateway of India have raised concerns, as cracks have been found along its façade with vegetation growing in them, and the domes have suffered damage to their waterproofing and reinforced cement-concrete. The directorate of archaeology and museums of the state has proposed a restoration plan, estimated to cost around ₹6.9 crore, which is currently pending approval from the government.

As per the presentation, the mortar joints between bricks or other masonry elements, known as pointing, have degraded, and previous abrasive cleaning has caused pitting in the stone, resulting in sulphate accretions and algae growth.

Officials from the department have stated that they have also observed efflorescence in the masonry, which is caused by water seeping into a building and leaving behind salt deposits after evaporating.

In addition to preserving the monument itself,  the plan encompasses improvements to the surrounding pathway , the staircase that leads to the water, and the historic railings and bollards.

Built in the Indo-Saracenic style, the Gateway is a remarkable  architectural monument erected in honor of Emperor George V's arrival in India in December 1911 , the first British monarch to visit the country. The Gateway's construction was finished in 1924, and it functioned as a symbolic ceremonial entryway to India for significant colonial figures.