Germany injects 40,000 euro booster in Kolkata's bridge

In a newest development, Germany has sanctioned special grant of 40,000 euro to upgrade the Mughal era camel hump-shaped bridge Dal Lake to be restored to its past glory with support of government of Germany owing to the 17th century structure's outstanding global heritage value. Oont Kadal is a stone masonry bridge which was built in the late 1670s during Mughal rule. The Oont Kadal forms an important part of the public realm that constitutes combined environment of Dal Lake, Zabarwan Mountain range and potential World Heritage Site of Nishat Bagh. Oont Kadal has always been part of Mughal landscape of historic gardens and as such figures in historic references to Dal Lake as well as Mughal Gardens including Nishat and Shalimar. Before starting the restoration work on Oont Kadal bridge, Dr.Jasper Wieck, Deputy Chief of Commission of the Germany in India and Thomas Schmidt, Cultural Officer signed an agreement with the officials of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Kashmir chapter.