Tourism secretary S.P. Thakur (in red T-shirt) and Intach director Malika Mitra (in sari) visit Qadam-e-Rasool in Cuttack on Sunday. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Aug. 4: An inspection team headed by tourism secretary S.P. Thakur today visited Qadam-e-Rasool, an ancient shrine considered sacred by both Hindus and Muslims, here after the state government recently approved a project for its renovation.

Officials of the Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco), the Cuttack Municipal Corporation, the Bhubaneswar Development Authority and the state culture department were part of the team.

Official sources said Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach) and the state-run Idco would execute the project that includes preservation and renovation of the main mosque.

“The tourism department has allocated Rs 1.5 crore for preservation and renovation of the main mosque inside Qadam-e-Rasool, which is one of the oldest monuments of the city,” said state tourism director Manoranjan Patnaik.

Patnaik said that apart from the main mosque, a sacred pond on the complex would also be revived just after the monsoon.

The main dome-like structure is one of the living remnants of Indo-Islamic architecture.

A footprint of Prophet Mohammad has also been preserved in the mosque.

The construction of the entire monument is said to be done on a single rock by subedar Nawab Saujauddin Mohammad Khan during the 18th century.

Qadam-e-Rasool, which is also centre for religious integration for both Hindus and Muslims, was lying neglected for the last couple of years.

The Telegraph had published a report on the poor state of affairs in the ancient monument.

The renovation proposal of the historic site was chalked out by the tourism department in October last year.

“An additional amount of Rs 15 lakh has been earmarked for conservation and preservation of Qadam-e-Rasool under the 13th finance commission plan,” said deputy director of state culture department Bhawani Prasad Ray.

Ray said there had been few cracks and leakages at the entrance of the structure, while the ceiling inside the main mosque also needed immediate repairs.

“Efforts have begun to preserve the historic monument. The Cuttack Municipal Corporation will also spend Rs 25 lakh to improve the existing drainage system around the monument to prevent waterlogging in the area,” said Cuttack-Barabati legislator Debasish Samantray.