LAHORE: The Traffic Engineering & Transport Planning Agency (Tepa) is nearing the final phase of a major urban-revival effort as it prepares to hand over three key heritage sites — Nila Gumbad, the Deori Corridor, and the subcontinent’s first Indo-Pak bank building — to the Lahore Authority for Heritage Revival (LAHR). The transfer will allow specialised conservation work to begin in collaboration with the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA), marking a significant step toward restoring historical visibility and cultural value to a long-neglected area in the heart of Lahore.
According to officials, the ongoing demolition of decades-old shops and encroachments surrounding these sites has entered its last stage. For years, informal commercial structures — many belonging to the famous cycle market — had blocked the view of the centuries-old Nila Gumbad and compromised the surrounding heritage landscape. The clearance is being carried out parallel to the construction of a modern multipurpose parking plaza, which will also accommodate the relocated shopkeepers.
A senior official of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA), the parent body of Tepa, confirmed that progress is on schedule. “After paying more than Rs610 million in compensation to the affected shopkeepers and residents on Saturday, Tepa initiated the demolition work on Sunday,” LDA Director General Tahir Farooq told Dawn on Thursday. “This phase is expected to wrap up soon, after which we can move into the next stages of the revitalisation project.”
Farooq shared that construction of the parking plaza began last month and is currently in the piling phase. The project carries a substantial budget of Rs2.451 billion and will feature a modern design equipped with a range of essential systems — including drainage, firefighting equipment, electrical and plumbing networks, ventilation systems, CCTV coverage, and lifts — along with improved surrounding roads. The structure will include a ground level and three underground basements, making it a major infrastructural addition to the area.
“The building will take time to complete,” the DG said, “but the demolition work will finish much sooner.”
Tepa Chief Engineer Iqrar Hussain added that once the site clearance is fully completed, all three heritage structures will be formally handed over to LAHR for detailed conservation, restoration, and architectural treatment. “Our job is to remove encroachments and construct the parking plaza,” he explained. “After this, LAHR and WCLA will take over the heritage conservation responsibilities.”
Hussain provided historical context as well, noting that Nila Gumbad, the shrine of Sheikh Abdul Razak Makki — disciple of the revered Sufi saint Baba Mauj Darya — was built approximately 350 years ago by the Mughal emperor, following the architectural inspiration of Ameer Taimur’s mausoleum in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. A comparable Nila Gumbad also stands within the Humayun’s Tomb complex in Delhi, further highlighting its architectural pedigree and significance.
Over the decades, Hussain said, unregulated urbanisation engulfed the area. Shops sprung up piece by piece around the Gumbad, eventually forming a dense commercial market dominated by cycle repair outlets. Many shopkeepers became tenants of the Auqaf Department. This uncontrolled growth swallowed the open space around the monument, leaving the iconic blue-tiled dome nearly invisible from most angles.
“With the demolition now underway, the Gumbad is re-emerging into view,” he said. “Very soon, it will be handed over for full restoration.”
The upcoming parking plaza aims to be more than a utilitarian structure. Hussain revealed that the ground level will include sitting areas, coffee shops, and small eateries, adding a public-friendly atmosphere to what is expected to become a rejuvenated heritage precinct. The plaza will offer parking for nearly 400 cars and 800 motorcycles, along with 62 shops in the first basement reserved for the displaced shopkeepers — ensuring a smooth transition for those affected by the clearance.
Once completed, the project titled “Uplifting of Nila Gumbad Area along with Provision of Underground Parking Facility” is expected to dramatically transform both the aesthetics and functionality of the locality. Traffic congestion, which has long plagued the Ravi Road–Nila Gumbad corridor, is anticipated to ease significantly due to the new parking infrastructure.
“After completion, all the heritage structures will be fully visible once again,” Hussain stressed. “This is not just a construction project; it’s a cultural revival. We are restoring identity, improving mobility, and giving the city back a piece of its history.”
