Assam: Minaret of historical mosque being shifted to pave way for NH-37

A group of architects in Assam's Nagaon district have brought in a special hydraulic system from Haryana to shift a two-storeyed minaret of a nearly 100-year-old mosque without dismantling it, following the widening of National Highway-37 to four lanes. The mosque, considered a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity in the area, is located along the highway stretching from Nagaon to Upper Assam.

Nagaon (Assam): With four-laning of National Highway- 37 underway, a group of architects in Assam's Nagaon district is determined to preserve a nearly 100-year-old mosque by moving a two-storeyed minaret of the historical monument to the districts Puranigudam area without dismantling it.

"Situated along NH-37, the minaret is being shifted as four-laning of the highway is being done. The shifting process will get completed within 15-20 days," said engineer Gurdeep Singh.

In order to ensure that the minaret is shifted without causing any harm to the historical monument, a special hydraulic system has been ordered from a Haryana-based real estate firm RR and Sons.

"More than 100 people are engaged in this work, which is being done in two phases. All safety measures have been undertaken," said Singh.

With the historical mosque being situated on National Highway -37, the renovation of the highway stretching from Nagaon to Upper Assam was getting difficult. After several rounds of deliberations with the locals, the concerned authorities decided to shift it without causing any harm to it.

The mosque has for long been serving as a symbol of unity between the Hindu and Muslim residents of the Nagaon district of Assam. It has even withstood the devastating earthquake that hit the city in 1950.