This is because preparations for the August 15 speech by the Prime Minister has seen the roads inside the fort being re-carpeted year after year. Therefore, the road leading into the Fort from Delhi Gate, the heritage structure’s main entrance, has been raised by two and a half feet, much higher than the lower sill of the gates.

A P Singha, whose shop has stood for 70 years in Meena Bazar, originally known as Chatta Chowk, told Newsline: “It would take us two steps to enter our shops here. The original road was much below the shops but they have been laid afresh almost every year.” With the road rising, the mouldings at the side of the entrance and the pathway have also been destroyed.

But the newly bestowed heritage status will change things for the Fort. The Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan (CCMP) for the Fort also includes excavating the original road.

Rachna Vishwanathan, who has worked on the CCMP for the Meena Bazaar area, said, “We will try to recover the original mouldings.”

An Archeological Survey of India (ASI) official said the road has been re-laid frequently for Independence Day celebrations, but not after 2003. He said, “Once the CCMP is cleared, we will work towards restoring the Fort.” The CCMP is at present with the Director General and needs to be first approved by a Supreme Court committee. The ASI needs to seriously look into both gates at Meena Bazar. While one cannot shut, the other fell off years ago.