India, May 9 -- Three years after a conservation project undertaken by Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach) restored Barh Ki Chowki - Delhi's oldest surviving police chowki in Sarai Rohilla - the early 19th-century heritage structure has lost much of its original character after being painted an off-white shade and altered in ways that have undone key aspects of the restoration, HT has learnt.

When HT visited Barh Ki Chowki earlier this week, the office of the anti-auto theft squad was operating from the premises. The facade of the building had been repainted, while the garden developed by Intach around the structure had been concretised.

Police personnel present at the premises claimed they were unaware of when ...