People who visit the PWD complex cannot miss the once fire-ravaged walls that now sport a new look, coated with fresh terracotta paint.
A portion of the Kalas Mahal, which was once part of the Chepauk Palace and was ravaged in a fire a few years ago, will soon be restored to its original glory.
Work to renovate the ground floor of the 248-year-old building is expected to be completed by September-end.
It will be the home to the National Green Tribunal, Southern Bench. Nearly 100 skilled labourers are giving finishing touches to the building that is being restored at a cost of Rs. 14.5 crore, said officials of the Public Works Department.
“Work is on to provide flooring with kota stones, which is a fine-grained variety of limestone. Labourers who are skilled in lime plastering and ornamental beading works are also engaged in providing wall lining as per the guidelines,” an official said.
Spread over 24,000 sq.ft, the ground floor will be allotted to the tribunal Bench and will house three court halls. The Bench is now functioning at Arumbakkam.
A team of its representatives recently visited the site.
Nearly 80 per cent of the work on the ground floor has been completed so far. Similarly, nearly 50 per cent of the work to renovate the first floor is over.
“We are reconstructing the Madras Terrace roofing using materials from Rajapalayam and Srivilliputhur. The windows and doors are being replicated in the heritage building. We are also making arrangements for water supply and sanitary facilities in the structure,” an official said.
Once the project to restore the first floor is over, work to reconstruct the octagonal dome will be taken up.
Meanwhile, the PWD is also expediting the process to restore the adjacent heritage building, Humayun Mahal, which suffered roof collapses and faced a minor fire over the past few years.
“The process is on to engage a conservation architect to prepare a detailed project report for restoration of the structure. The project may be implemented in five or six months,” an official said.
