Mumbai: An ancient tunnel dating back 200 years was discovered on the premises of the General Post Office (GPO) at CST in Mumbai on Monday (19.10.10).
MiD DAY learnt about this slice of history and informed the GPO authorities three days ago. Initially, the authorities refused to believe that they could be sitting, in more ways than one, on such an ancient passageway.
Chief Postmaster General (Maharashtra & Goa) Faiz ur Rehman was not amused when he was first told about the tunnel. "In the last 25 years that I've been working at this building, I've never heard about any such thing," said Rehman. "We'd like to confirm any such existence before making any comments to the media."
Yesterday ie) 19.10.10, Rehman, who was in Aurangabad, told, "It's like a treasure for the GPO. We are thankful to MiD DAY for bringing this fact to our notice and want to explore it as much as we can to understand what it could have been for ages together,". "We will seek assistance from the heritage department and others concerned to unearth this mystery."
With other senior officials at the GPO, it was a similar tale of disbelief turning into surprise. "Neither have I ever heard of any such a passageway," said Postal Director Abha Singh who later said she admitted that the entire area surrounding the GPO may be steeped in history. "Truly, it's a treasure and we'd love to preserve it," said Singh. She hoped that the passage could someday be converted into a museum and thrown open to the public.
Acting on a tip-off by this correspondent, Postal Director Abha Singh and a few employees started making enquiries with liftman S S Jadhav who has been employed with the department for 26 years. Jadhav confirmed having learnt of such an underground opening. Along with Jadhav and a few other employees, MiD DAY went to a garden in front of the building. There, we came across a cement structure covered with a lid and a flowerpot placed on it. It took at least three people to open the lid.
Inside was a rusted iron ladder, leading to a muddy floor. None of the people around mustered courage to step in. There were two other openings leading below each within a few metres of the other. Postal Director Abha Singh gets the employees to open the lid in a garden in front of the GPO building.
A BMC drainage cleaning employee, who was at the spot, confirmed to MiD DAY that it could not be a drainage tank, as there was no foul stench of gas being emitted from the opening. "I know each and every underground passage in front of the GPO but I've never come across anything like this before," he said.
Finally, postal employee Devji Waghela dared to enter, armed with an emergency lamp. "The mouth of the tunnel is wide open and any person can walk inside," said Waghela. "Neither did I feel suffocated nor was the place stinking. I could see mud all over the place." Waghela said he flashed the lamp he had and he could see a walkway-like passage flanked by strong walls as far as the eye reached.
Chairman of Mumbai Heritage Committee, Dinesh Afzalpurkar, said he would ask his officials to visit the site and study if the place has any historical background.
Assistant Director of the state Archaeological Department, Balchandra Kulkarni, said, "It would truly be a great contribution by MiD DAY if this leads to a forgotten treasure from the British era."Kulkarni said the tunnel could either be a drainage line used during the British era or an escape route. Kulkarni, who has studied Mumbai's forts said the British feared an attack by Napoleon and had constructed an underground escape route stretching from Apollo Bunder to where the Bombay High Court stands and St George's Fort (covering St George Hospital to Masjid Bunder).
A 1.5-km tunnel also exists in the adjacent St George Hospital's ward number 5. "I have studied the St George fort passageway which opens inside St George Hospital but that passage connects to a dead end and nothing concrete could be concluded from there," said Kulkarni.
History check
The British who were ruling Bombay during the 18th century feared that Napoleon would attack Bombay. In order to protect themselves, they constructed an underground escape passage route called Bombay Fort. However, Napolean was defeated in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
1862 - Year the Bombay Fort was demolished by the British
1913 - Year the GPO building was erected.
Source : www.ndtv.com
********************************************************
The tunnel-like structure has attracted much media interest
An ancient "tunnel-like" structure has been unearthed in the garden of the General Post Office in the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay).The authorities say it is clear that the previously undiscovered structure is not a sewage or storm-water drain. It was only revealed when a local newspaper reporter asked to see it.
The post office was built 97 years ago.
Chief Postmaster General Faiz-ur-Rehman told the BBC that the discovery of the structure came as a surprise. "When we managed to open it there was no foul smell. We have called in the experts now and they will establish whether it connects anywhere else."
Source : www.bbc.co.uk - By Prachi Pinglay BBC News, Mumbai.
******************************************************
For Videos,
01. Inside Tunnel Video.
02. Ms.Abha Singh, Director, Mumbai GPO - Press meet.
06 November 2010
200 year old tunnel found in MUMBAI GPO
Mumbai: An ancient tunnel dating back 200 years was discovered on the premises of the General Post Office (GPO) at CST in Mumbai on Monday (19.10.10).
MiD DAY learnt about this slice of history and informed the GPO authorities three days ago. Initially, the authorities refused to believe that they could be sitting, in more ways than one, on such an ancient passageway.
Chief Postmaster General (Maharashtra & Goa) Faiz ur Rehman was not amused when he was first told about the tunnel. "In the last 25 years that I've been working at this building, I've never heard about any such thing," said Rehman. "We'd like to confirm any such existence before making any comments to the media."
Yesterday ie) 19.10.10, Rehman, who was in Aurangabad, told, "It's like a treasure for the GPO. We are thankful to MiD DAY for bringing this fact to our notice and want to explore it as much as we can to understand what it could have been for ages together,". "We will seek assistance from the heritage department and others concerned to unearth this mystery."
With other senior officials at the GPO, it was a similar tale of disbelief turning into surprise. "Neither have I ever heard of any such a passageway," said Postal Director Abha Singh who later said she admitted that the entire area surrounding the GPO may be steeped in history. "Truly, it's a treasure and we'd love to preserve it," said Singh. She hoped that the passage could someday be converted into a museum and thrown open to the public.
Acting on a tip-off by this correspondent, Postal Director Abha Singh and a few employees started making enquiries with liftman S S Jadhav who has been employed with the department for 26 years. Jadhav confirmed having learnt of such an underground opening. Along with Jadhav and a few other employees, MiD DAY went to a garden in front of the building. There, we came across a cement structure covered with a lid and a flowerpot placed on it. It took at least three people to open the lid.
Inside was a rusted iron ladder, leading to a muddy floor. None of the people around mustered courage to step in. There were two other openings leading below each within a few metres of the other. Postal Director Abha Singh gets the employees to open the lid in a garden in front of the GPO building.
A BMC drainage cleaning employee, who was at the spot, confirmed to MiD DAY that it could not be a drainage tank, as there was no foul stench of gas being emitted from the opening. "I know each and every underground passage in front of the GPO but I've never come across anything like this before," he said.
Finally, postal employee Devji Waghela dared to enter, armed with an emergency lamp. "The mouth of the tunnel is wide open and any person can walk inside," said Waghela. "Neither did I feel suffocated nor was the place stinking. I could see mud all over the place." Waghela said he flashed the lamp he had and he could see a walkway-like passage flanked by strong walls as far as the eye reached.
Chairman of Mumbai Heritage Committee, Dinesh Afzalpurkar, said he would ask his officials to visit the site and study if the place has any historical background.
Assistant Director of the state Archaeological Department, Balchandra Kulkarni, said, "It would truly be a great contribution by MiD DAY if this leads to a forgotten treasure from the British era."Kulkarni said the tunnel could either be a drainage line used during the British era or an escape route. Kulkarni, who has studied Mumbai's forts said the British feared an attack by Napoleon and had constructed an underground escape route stretching from Apollo Bunder to where the Bombay High Court stands and St George's Fort (covering St George Hospital to Masjid Bunder).
A 1.5-km tunnel also exists in the adjacent St George Hospital's ward number 5. "I have studied the St George fort passageway which opens inside St George Hospital but that passage connects to a dead end and nothing concrete could be concluded from there," said Kulkarni.
History check
The British who were ruling Bombay during the 18th century feared that Napoleon would attack Bombay. In order to protect themselves, they constructed an underground escape passage route called Bombay Fort. However, Napolean was defeated in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
1862 - Year the Bombay Fort was demolished by the British
1913 - Year the GPO building was erected.
Source : www.ndtv.com
********************************************************
The tunnel-like structure has attracted much media interest
An ancient "tunnel-like" structure has been unearthed in the garden of the General Post Office in the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay).The authorities say it is clear that the previously undiscovered structure is not a sewage or storm-water drain. It was only revealed when a local newspaper reporter asked to see it.
The post office was built 97 years ago.
Chief Postmaster General Faiz-ur-Rehman told the BBC that the discovery of the structure came as a surprise. "When we managed to open it there was no foul smell. We have called in the experts now and they will establish whether it connects anywhere else."
Source : www.bbc.co.uk - By Prachi Pinglay BBC News, Mumbai.
******************************************************
For Videos,
01. Inside Tunnel Video.
02. Ms.Abha Singh, Director, Mumbai GPO - Press meet.
MiD DAY learnt about this slice of history and informed the GPO authorities three days ago. Initially, the authorities refused to believe that they could be sitting, in more ways than one, on such an ancient passageway.
Chief Postmaster General (Maharashtra & Goa) Faiz ur Rehman was not amused when he was first told about the tunnel. "In the last 25 years that I've been working at this building, I've never heard about any such thing," said Rehman. "We'd like to confirm any such existence before making any comments to the media."
Yesterday ie) 19.10.10, Rehman, who was in Aurangabad, told, "It's like a treasure for the GPO. We are thankful to MiD DAY for bringing this fact to our notice and want to explore it as much as we can to understand what it could have been for ages together,". "We will seek assistance from the heritage department and others concerned to unearth this mystery."
With other senior officials at the GPO, it was a similar tale of disbelief turning into surprise. "Neither have I ever heard of any such a passageway," said Postal Director Abha Singh who later said she admitted that the entire area surrounding the GPO may be steeped in history. "Truly, it's a treasure and we'd love to preserve it," said Singh. She hoped that the passage could someday be converted into a museum and thrown open to the public.
Acting on a tip-off by this correspondent, Postal Director Abha Singh and a few employees started making enquiries with liftman S S Jadhav who has been employed with the department for 26 years. Jadhav confirmed having learnt of such an underground opening. Along with Jadhav and a few other employees, MiD DAY went to a garden in front of the building. There, we came across a cement structure covered with a lid and a flowerpot placed on it. It took at least three people to open the lid.
Inside was a rusted iron ladder, leading to a muddy floor. None of the people around mustered courage to step in. There were two other openings leading below each within a few metres of the other. Postal Director Abha Singh gets the employees to open the lid in a garden in front of the GPO building.
A BMC drainage cleaning employee, who was at the spot, confirmed to MiD DAY that it could not be a drainage tank, as there was no foul stench of gas being emitted from the opening. "I know each and every underground passage in front of the GPO but I've never come across anything like this before," he said.
Finally, postal employee Devji Waghela dared to enter, armed with an emergency lamp. "The mouth of the tunnel is wide open and any person can walk inside," said Waghela. "Neither did I feel suffocated nor was the place stinking. I could see mud all over the place." Waghela said he flashed the lamp he had and he could see a walkway-like passage flanked by strong walls as far as the eye reached.
Chairman of Mumbai Heritage Committee, Dinesh Afzalpurkar, said he would ask his officials to visit the site and study if the place has any historical background.
Assistant Director of the state Archaeological Department, Balchandra Kulkarni, said, "It would truly be a great contribution by MiD DAY if this leads to a forgotten treasure from the British era."Kulkarni said the tunnel could either be a drainage line used during the British era or an escape route. Kulkarni, who has studied Mumbai's forts said the British feared an attack by Napoleon and had constructed an underground escape route stretching from Apollo Bunder to where the Bombay High Court stands and St George's Fort (covering St George Hospital to Masjid Bunder).
A 1.5-km tunnel also exists in the adjacent St George Hospital's ward number 5. "I have studied the St George fort passageway which opens inside St George Hospital but that passage connects to a dead end and nothing concrete could be concluded from there," said Kulkarni.
History check
The British who were ruling Bombay during the 18th century feared that Napoleon would attack Bombay. In order to protect themselves, they constructed an underground escape passage route called Bombay Fort. However, Napolean was defeated in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
1862 - Year the Bombay Fort was demolished by the British
1913 - Year the GPO building was erected.
Source : www.ndtv.com
********************************************************
The tunnel-like structure has attracted much media interest
An ancient "tunnel-like" structure has been unearthed in the garden of the General Post Office in the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay).The authorities say it is clear that the previously undiscovered structure is not a sewage or storm-water drain. It was only revealed when a local newspaper reporter asked to see it.
The post office was built 97 years ago.
Chief Postmaster General Faiz-ur-Rehman told the BBC that the discovery of the structure came as a surprise. "When we managed to open it there was no foul smell. We have called in the experts now and they will establish whether it connects anywhere else."
Source : www.bbc.co.uk - By Prachi Pinglay BBC News, Mumbai.
******************************************************
For Videos,
01. Inside Tunnel Video.
02. Ms.Abha Singh, Director, Mumbai GPO - Press meet.
Revision in rates of remuneration for performing duty as Invigilators in the examinations
Regarding revision in rates of remuneration for performing duty as Invigilators in the examinations, our CHQ has written a letter to the directorate, to revise the remuneration at the earliest. Copy of the letter is shown below. Let us expect a facourable decision will be made soon.
To
The Director General
Department of Posts,
Dak Bhawan, New Delhi-110001
No. CHQ/IPASP/011/2010 dated 01.11.2010
Sub-Revision in rates of remuneration for performing duty as
Invigilators in the examinations
Respected Madam,
Your goodself is well aware that Inspector, Posts cadre is having important role in each and every examination conducted by the Department either on working days or Sundays/Holidays. Generally, most of examinations are conducted on Sundays without any compensatory off to our cadre. Work related to examination is an arduous nature of duty and is assigned to one’s own duty/work. At present, IPs/ASPs engaged for examination duties are being paid honorarium of Rs.20/- for single duty and Rs.40/- for full day duty. These rates were fixed by the Department in the year 1972 and a period of more than 38 years has since been elapsed but no revision has been carried out whereas SSC/UPSC are revising these rates periodically. At present, SSC is paying Rs.250/- for single duty & Rs.300/- for full day duty and UPSC is paying Rs.350/- per day to Group B officers.
In view of above facts, it is urged that rates of remuneration may kindly be revised immediately atleast at par with the rates being paid by SSC. In the meanwhile, orders may kindly be issued for grant of compensatory off to all IPs/ASPs engaged in upcoming examination for Direct Recruitment to the cadre of PA/SA scheduled to be held on 14-11-2010 throughout India.
An early positive action along with a line in reply will be highly appreciated.
With regards,
Yours sincerely,
(Roop Chand)
General Secretary
To
The Director General
Department of Posts,
Dak Bhawan, New Delhi-110001
No. CHQ/IPASP/011/2010 dated 01.11.2010
Sub-Revision in rates of remuneration for performing duty as
Invigilators in the examinations
Respected Madam,
Your goodself is well aware that Inspector, Posts cadre is having important role in each and every examination conducted by the Department either on working days or Sundays/Holidays. Generally, most of examinations are conducted on Sundays without any compensatory off to our cadre. Work related to examination is an arduous nature of duty and is assigned to one’s own duty/work. At present, IPs/ASPs engaged for examination duties are being paid honorarium of Rs.20/- for single duty and Rs.40/- for full day duty. These rates were fixed by the Department in the year 1972 and a period of more than 38 years has since been elapsed but no revision has been carried out whereas SSC/UPSC are revising these rates periodically. At present, SSC is paying Rs.250/- for single duty & Rs.300/- for full day duty and UPSC is paying Rs.350/- per day to Group B officers.
In view of above facts, it is urged that rates of remuneration may kindly be revised immediately atleast at par with the rates being paid by SSC. In the meanwhile, orders may kindly be issued for grant of compensatory off to all IPs/ASPs engaged in upcoming examination for Direct Recruitment to the cadre of PA/SA scheduled to be held on 14-11-2010 throughout India.
An early positive action along with a line in reply will be highly appreciated.
With regards,
Yours sincerely,
(Roop Chand)
General Secretary
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)