Heritage buildings to get a facelift

CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, 27/04/2015: Victoria Public Hall, or the Town Hall, is a historical building in Chennai near Chennai Central Railway Station named after Victoria, Empress of India. It is one of the best examples of British architecture in Chennai and was built to commemorate the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria. It served as a theatre and public assembly room in the late 19th century and the early 20th century. Photo: V. Ganesan

The city is setting out to present its best self to the visitors to the Global Investors Meet. Part of this is to give spruce up some of the fine heritage structures the city can boast of.

Grade I heritage buildings including Ripon Buildings, Chepauk Palace, Theosophical Society, Madras Club, Blavatsky Bungalow, College of Engineering Guindy, Higginbothams, Chettinad Palace, Bharathiyar’s House, P.Orr & Sons, Victoria Public Hall, Maadi Poonga, National Art Gallery, Fort St.George, Museum Theatre, Senate House and Madras High Court have been shortlisted.

Parameters

“The 36 buildings have been shortlisted based on a few parameters including secular nature, easy maintenance and accessibility. There are 800 heritage buildings in Chennai,” said an official of the City Infrastructure and Beautification Committee.

The oldest among the heritage buildings to get better lighting arrangement include Fort St.George which was constructed in 1644.

The fort is one of the 163 notified areas in the State. Minor restoration works and lighting arrangements will be made only after clearance from authorities concerned.

Welcoming the recommendation by the City Infrastructure and Beautification Committee, historian V.Sriram said the facelift should not end with the Global Investors' Meet.

“Some of the buildings including Bharath Insurance Building are in a very bad shape. These buildings should also be restored properly,” he said.