Meerut To Highlight Mahabharata Legacy With New Corridor; Ghantaghar Redevelopment Approved

Meerut’s historical identity is set for a major upgrade as the route from Saket intersection to Hastinapur will be developed as a heritage corridor featuring attractive signs, symbols, and digital boards highlighting the city’s ancient significance. The proposal, included in the Integrated Development Plan by Commissioner Bhanuchandra Goswami, has been assigned to the Meerut Development Authority (MDA).

The corridor will display symbols associated with the Mahabharata era, as well as the rich heritage of Jainism and Sikhism. The Commissioner noted during a departmental meeting on Wednesday that visitors arriving in Meerut see no visible indication of Hastinapur’s proximity, despite its inclusion in the state’s Mahabharata and Jain tourism circuits. Work on these circuits, however, has yet to begin.

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Currently, dividers across Meerut differ in size, colour, and design. The Commissioner directed all agencies involved in road construction to adopt a uniform model citywide. A special divider design may be created for consistent implementation.

Under the CM Grid scheme, road widening and construction of drains and culverts are underway, causing traffic congestion and safety hazards due to inadequate protective measures. The Commissioner instructed that work must follow NCRTC-style safety protocols, including tin barricades, proper lighting for night operations, dust control through water sprinkling, and ensuring no machinery or cables are left scattered.

Meerut’s iconic Ghantaghar (Clock Tower), long referenced in stories and films but currently plagued by traffic chaos and poor infrastructure, will be redeveloped on the lines of Lucknow’s Hazratganj. The facelift will include wider roads, pedestrian pavements, railings, benches, uniform shop signage, improved dividers with flowers and plants, and attractive street lighting. The MDA will begin work as per the Commissioner’s instructions, and the tower will be enhanced with façade lighting.

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Built originally in the seventeenth century by Kamboh Nawab Abu Mohammad Khan, the structure was once known as Kamboh Darwaza. It was renamed Ghantaghar after receiving the Allahabad High Court’s clock during its 1913 renovation, and post-Independence, it became Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dwar. Made of red stone, the Ghantaghar remains one of Meerut’s most recognisable landmarks and is often featured in Bollywood films.