Lying neglected for years, the historic Town Hall in Chandni Chowk may once again see some action as the local municipal corporation is planning on holding the next meeting of its House at the 150-year-old building.
The building was the headquarters of the erstwhile Municipal Corporation of Delhi till 2011, when the civic body moved to the sprawling Civic Centre complex, just off Minto Road. Since then, there has been a caretaker positioned to look after the exteriors, but the insides of the Town Hall have been lying in disrepair.
The North Delhi Municipal Corporation, which took over ownership of Town Hall after MCD was split in 2012, has decided to hold its next meeting and issue identity cards to former councillors there.
“We are working on the Town Hall redevelopment plan. It has been delayed, but we hope that by holding the House meeting there we will revive old memories. The place will get spruced up too,” said North Delhi Mayor Ravinder Gupta.
Today, the colonial-era building’s plaster is peeling off, windows are ajar and according to some there is a large contingent of rats and bandicoots on the premises.
the Leader of the Opposition Mukesh Goel said the decision to hold the House meeting at Town Hall will cost the Corporation Rs.25-Rs.30 lakh. “Since the Corporation has neglected the upkeep of Town Hall, it will take a lot of work to make it ready for the meeting. The Corporation is facing a financial crunch, so this is completely uncalled for,” said Mr. Goel.
“The Mayor is only interested in getting photographed heading the House at the historic meeting hall. If the BJP is so concerned about the building, they would have maintained it better.”
According to officials, the ambitious plan to redevelop the building and its surroundings into a cultural hub failed to take off. The plan for the 16-acre site was to have a museum, budget hotel, boutique hotel, spa, food bazaar, library, an exhibition centre and a maze garden.
