Seraj Anwar / Patna

The historic Khudabakhsh library of Patna has escaped the demolition squad. After pressure from historian against the proposed demolition of once Central Asia's largest Qutubakhana library on the Ashoka Rajpath, the Bihar government has withdrawn its decision to demolish a part of it.

The iconic monument was coming in the way of a two-and-a-half-km double-decker road from Kargil Chowk to NIT Mor on Ashoka Rajpath  being constructed by Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited (BRPNNL).

The BRPNNL had given a notice to the library for demolition of the Lord Curzon Reading Hall of the library. This would mean the demolition of the front part of the hall.

The chairman of the bridge construction corporation, Amrutlal Meena, has announced the  Khudabakhsh library will not be demolished.

Instead, the width of the proposed road near the library will be reduced. However, the library management is yet to receive official information about it.

Library director Shaista Bedar told Awaaz-The Voice that she has not received any letter from the bridge construction corporation regarding this. “I have also come to know from the media that the threat to the library has been averted,” She said.

Mushtaq Rahat, who has been active in the campaign against the demolition, says due to the protests of the civil society the bridge construction corporation had changed the design of the bridge.

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