Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) was directed to send a proposal to Maharashtra Government seeking transfer of custody of Zero Mile landmark to itself. At present, District Collectorate oversees the heritage monument and it is undergoing restoration as, years of neglect has led to discolouring and damage to some of the stone’s markers. Anoop Kumar, Chairman, Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC), Nagpur Municipal Corporation, issued the direction during its meeting held on Thursday. The issue of Zero Mile Stone came up for discussion against the backdrop of note from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who had requested Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to provide funds from its CSR for the monument’s restoration and beautification of surrounding.

 

Againstthis backdrop, it was stated that the monument’s preservation and other activities can be carried out at best under the supervision of NMC. So the ownership of Zero Mile Stone should rest with the civic body and hence, HCC would draft a proposal and forward the same to Urban Development Department (UDD), Maharashtra Government, seeking their nod for carrying out the exercise. Given the historical importance of the Zero Mile Stone, Kumar said, the Government should transfer the land adjoining the structure so that its preservation can be carried out in proper manner. Also, the extra land can be put to use for beautification so that visitors would be able to spend their time and appreciate the beauty of the structure.

 

Municipal Commissioner Dr Abhijeet Chaudhari, District Collector Dr Vipin Itankar, Member Secretary and Chief Engineer, PWD, NMC, Leena Upadhaye, and IOC’s General Manager Atul Gupta were also present at the meeting. Dr Chaudhari informed the meeting that Public Works Department, Maharashtra Government, had been entrusted the task of renovation and restoration of Zero Mile Stone. IOC’s funds will be later used for beautification of the structure’s surrounding area.

 

The Zero Mile Stone at Nagpur indicates direction of nine major metro cities of country, namely Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Mumbai, Kolkata, New Delhi and Pune. All these cities are at equi distance from the spot where the stone was erected at the time of start of the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India in the year 1907. The structure consists of a pillar made from sandstone and another small stone represents the GTS Standard Benchmark having inscription. There are also four stucco horses adjoining the stone but they were added quite later. The height of the top of the pillar is 310.948 m (1,020.17 ft) above mean sea level.