This follows a threat by the Museum authorities to close down the museum if the VMC fails to reopen the gates within 10 days for traffic.

According to highly placed sources, in a letter to the Museum authorities, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Administration) H S Patel has stated that the civic body will not reopen the closed gates. A copy of the letter has also been sent to the District Collector.

While the VMC had closed the road to prevent garden and animals being affected from air and noise pollution, an official spokesman of the Museum had alleged that closing of the gates had affected the flow of visitors in the Museum. In a letter written recently to the VMC, he had stated that they would be forced to close the Museum from the safety point of view.

The Museum staff will be allowed to continue to take their vehicles inside the garden like others of the Baroda Health Museum and Baroda Citizens Council. The Museum spokesman had alleged that the VMC was not allowing the staffers to take vehicles inside.

Traffic meet: Representatives of the elected and administrative wings in the VMC will hold another round of meeting on Monday in a bid to finalise a plan to ease traffic congestion near the Vadodara Railway Station.

The civic body has been facing a problem after several architects came up with their plans when it decided to implement the Kolhatkar Plan.

Sources say, apart from taking into consideration various aspects, the VMC will give emphasis to arrangements for pedestrians.