LG oversees Town Hall restoration plan on site

Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Saturday paid a visit to the bustling Walled City area, including the iconic Town Hall, where he was given a presentation on its restoration plan by civic officials.

The redevelopment plan seeks a conservation of the Victorian-era building that will house a museum, retelling the history of Delhi, the centrepiece of the attractions that are to be built.

Baijal, who visited Chandni Chowk, Hanuman Mandir area, Yamuna Bazaar, also instructed officials to work on complete traffic circulation plan of the area.

The LG was accompanied by North Delhi Municipal Corporation Commissioner P K Gupta, Principal Secretary (PWD), CEO (Delhi Jal Board), Secretary (Transport and Power), Joint CP Traffic, CEO (DUSIB) and senior officers of various other agencies.

Baijal emphasised on the need for creation of new parking lots and upgradation of existing ones by the corporation to cater to the growing requirement of the area and also for ensuring proper day-to-day cleanliness and sanitation.

Built in 1860s, the Town Hall, a landmark building, was the seat of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi from 1866 till 2009.

The erstwhile unified MCD was trifurcated in 2012 and the landmark currently falls under the NDMC.

The corporation has set the ball rolling for hiring a consultant for preparing a

fresh restoration plan for the iconic 150-year-old Town Hall and is likely to float a tender soon.

A craft baazar, a dancing fountain, a maze, light and sound programmes, street food, children activity area, a boutique hotel, food court, courtyard and sculpture garden, digital library, lecture rooms, fine dining areas, will also be developed in its premises.

Baijal also asked Commissioner (Transport), Delhi and Joint CP (Delhi Traffic) to ensure regulated plying of registered e-rickshaws.

After Town Hall, he inspected the Hanuman Mandir flyover and directed for time-bound completion of beautification work undergoing beneath it.

He was informed that there is a proposal for construction of two multi-level stack parking lots in the area and for installation of one flower waste processing machine near the temple premises.