Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat urged Indian state governments to preserve public assets built during the British colonial period [1].
The initiative seeks to protect historic structures that fall outside the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to prevent their demolition [3].
Shekhawat identified several types of infrastructure requiring urgent attention. He said that district collectorates, courts, hospital buildings, and railway stations built during the colonial era need to be preserved [1]. He said states should approach the task with more seriousness and take concrete steps toward conservation [1].
Many of these sites are currently not under the protection of the ASI, leaving them vulnerable to urban redevelopment and decay [3]. The minister's call emphasizes a shift toward recognizing the architectural and historical value of these public assets, regardless of their colonial origins, as part of the national heritage [1].
By urging state-level action, the ministry aims to create a broader network of protected sites. This approach acknowledges that the central government cannot oversee every colonial-era building across the country's diverse landscape [3].
“British-era district collectorates, courts, hospital buildings, railway stations, and other public assets built during the colonial period need to be preserved”
This directive signals a pragmatic approach to heritage management in India. By focusing on structures not covered by the Archaeological Survey of India, the government is attempting to close a regulatory gap that often leads to the demolition of colonial architecture during urban expansion. It reflects a transition toward valuing colonial-era infrastructure as historical record rather than solely as symbols of foreign rule.
