Click to play videoNew Delhi: It's Delhi's oldest heritage zone, a world heritage site and an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) protected monument.
However, that is obviously not enough to save Humayun's Tomb from vandalism -- and this time from the Government, which is all set to build a tunnel link road running just 100 metres away from the historic monument.
The tunnel is being built in the name of infrastructure for the 2010 Commonwealth Games -- a damning project according to conservationists.
"It's a damning project. It will ruin everything. Bird habitat will be completely destroyed, the zoo will be completely destroyed, because they will be digging through three kilometers -- 10 meters deep and 70 meters wide," says conservation architect, Ratish Nanda.
And while heritage lovers are fretting, agencies like UNESCO are sure about the tomb's fate. Sources have told CNN-IBN that like Hampi, this time too, UNESCO will put Humayun's Tomb on the 'endangered monument list' if the road is built. A letter to the effect has been sent to the ASI.
"The vibrations caused by digging this tunnel would cause structural damage to the tomb," says Nanda.
What's more, the Rs 800 crore link road being planned has not been asked for by the international body manning the Commonwealth Games committee.
Assessments made show that everyday over 14,000 vehicles will use the road, ruining the green belt of Sundar nursery next to the monument.
The tunnel will also destroy the underlying Mughal archeology that conservationists are banking on for further research.
But little of that matters to a Government willing to pay a price for development -- even if the price is history itself.
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