The Centre has given over Rs 3 crore to restore Buxa Fort in Alipurduar, an important monument in north Bengal associated with India’s struggle for independence.

Spread over 2sqkm, the remnants of the fort next to Bhutan hills bear testimony to how hundreds of freedom fighters were kept in the British detention camp for years.

The Directorate of Archaeological Museums under the Union ministry of information and cultural affairs has sanctioned Rs 3.01 crore to restore the fort. The fund has reached the district magistrate, who has tasked the construction wing of the state PWD to execute the work in eight months.

“Time and again, we asked for this fort to be restored. It is good that finally the Centre approved funds for it,” said Tamal Goswami, an archaeological consultant in Alipurduar, adding no contemporary materials would be used in the job.

Pinaki Ghosh, associated with the restoration work, said cleaning and chemical treatment of walls, scaffolding and strengthening of structures, rebuilding damaged parts and landscaping, including putting up electric lights and restoring a pathway through the fort, would be taken up.