Town hall could soon become heritage hotel

Nineteenth century building to be taken up by India Tourism Development Corporation after the civic agency shifts to its new office

While the city babus will soon be shifting to the tallest address in the city, the Raj-era Town Hall will shortly be turning into a five-star heritage hotel. Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is shifting its office from the 142-year-old Town Hall to the new civic centre at Vivekanand Marg.


Five-star comfort:u00a0 the mcd will soon move out of the town hallu00a0in
north delhi. file pic

Though, nothing has been finalised as yet, but sources told MiD DAY, that there is agreement within the ranks of the civic agency to turn its old office into a heritage hotel. According to officials, the other options include a commercial complex, community centre, government office and some shops.

"There were other options like community centre and commercial complex. But, most senior officials are on the side of turning it into a heritage hotel," said a senior MCD official on the condition of anonymity.

But, the committee formed by the commissioner has still not come out with the report giving the final nod for the conversion."The report has not come out. But, the town hall is most likely to turn into a heritage building," said KS Mehra, Commissioner, MCD.

Other officials too are eagerly waiting for the final decision by the civic agency."We are going to finalise everything soon. We will send the report to the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, and he will make the final decision," said Yogendra Chandolia, Chairman, Standing Committee, MCD.

"It is a very nice idea to turn it into a heritage hotel. All the people who come to visit our city will come to know about one of the oldest monuments in the Capital," added Chandolia.

The heritage hotel will not merely cater to foreign tourists but also to native businessmen and traders often visiting the old city as part of their business ventures. The Victorian building will be taken over by India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) officials after the MCD shifts its office and renovation work will start soon after its possession.

The Town Hall was planned before India's First War of Independence in1857 to serve as an office for the Municipality, Chamber of Commerce,a literary society and a museum. It was built during 1860-1865 and was modelled on centres of cities in Victorian Britain.u00a0

The building was built with provincial funds of Rs 30,000 as subscription from Indian citizens. In 1866, the municipality bought the building for Rs 1,35,475. However, it continued to house the Public Library and Europeon Club till the end of the century.

The place where Town Hall stands today, once formed a part of the gardens laid by Shah Jahan's daughter, Jahanara, inside which was constructed a beautiful 'sarai' or inn.