Hall of Nations reduced to rubble to make way for new structures

The Hall of Nations and the Hall of Industries in Pragati Maidan – two of the national Capital's globally celebrated and iconic modern architectural landmarks – are now history.

The buildings, which were constructed to celebrate the 25th year of Independence, were on Monday demolished to make way for a 'state-of-the-art modern complex'.

"The proposed redevelopment plan of Pragati Maidan is a project of national importance as it envisages setting up of a world class, state-of-the-art 'Integrated Exhibition and Convention Centre' (IECC), with latest modern architectural design. The layout plan is ready and it has been approved by the competent authorities. We expect to finish it by mid-2019. A basement parking facility for 4,800 vehicles is also a part of the project," an India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) official said.

"Seven exhibition centres, spread over an area of nearly 1.5 lakh sq m, will come up in Pragati Maidan. Besides that, a world-class convention centre, with a capacity of 7,000 seats, will also be built," the official said.

"The plan goes beyond Pragati Maidan: we will be constructing an underpass through the Maidan to decongest traffic in and around the area. Red and white sandstones will be used for the construction, in harmony with other buildings in the capital. It will add to the aesthetics of the city," he added

"The buildings were not categorised as heritage by the Heritage Conservation of Committee (HCC), as they only 45 years old. So, we have demolished them for the new project. Demolition of the Nehru Pavilion is still going on," said another senior ITPO official.

The Delhi High Court on April 20 had dismissed a plea by the building's architect to preserve it.

Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva dismissed as "without merit" the plea by architect Raj Rewal, who had designed the building. The court's verdict was based on the decision of the HCC, set up for protecting heritage structures, which has held that only those buildings which are 60 years or older would be considered for heritage status.

It also said since the HCC's guidelines, formulated in February this year, have not been challenged; therefore, the architect has no legal right to seek preservation of the structure.

"The layout plan of IECC, which inevitably involves demolition of these structures, has already been approved by the concerned statutory authorities like Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC), South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and National Monuments Authority (NMA)," an official said.

ITPO, headquartered at Pragati Maidan, is the nodal agency under the aegis of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for promoting the country's external trade and hosts the famous annual trade fair on its premises.

Possibly, India's first pillarless structure, the Centre's move to demolish it was met with impassioned pleas from art houses and galleries around the world.