This plan to renovate and reuse the heritage buildings in Tamil Nadu is superb
Posted on: 24/Feb/2018 9:36:35 AM
How many of us know that there are as many as 2467 heritage buildings within the metropolitan area limit in Chennai? It must be noted that after Kolkata city the city of Chennai has the highest number of such buildings in India and that is awesome piece of information for Chennai people and for the people of Tamil Nadu.
The news that has come out now is the PWD or Public Works Department has planned to renovate and reuse the heritage buildings. It is worthy to note that the abandoned building belonging to British era that was used as sub-register office after India’s independence would soon be busy with many activities. This would be superb news for many senior citizens in Chennai as they know how this building located in Rajaji Salai was once bustling with many people.
The amazing news is in the Tamil Nadu state around 250 such type of abandoned buildings would get new life soon. It is known that newly constituted building structure and conservation department of PWD has raised this plan to restore the buildings so that they would be converted into offices.
It is now said that there are as many as 54 such heritage buildings present in Greater Chennai and this was confirmed in the first ever survey of this type. It is surprising that there are also 21 heritage buildings in Dindigul, Kanyakumari and 16 such in Pudukottai and these places are just next to Greater Chennai in the list of most heritage buildings in TN.
A source belonging to PWD spoke about how renovation, restoration and conservation are not only the objective of PWD but the main aim is to reutilize these heritage buildings. It is worthy to mention that the Chepauk based Kalas Mahal was restored last year after it was destroyed in a fire accident. Now this building has got office of southern bench of National Green Tribunal. According to the PWD official as many as six more offices of various agencies of the government would be making their presence felt at this Kalas Mahal.
The good news is as many as 12 buildings in TN have been selected and they would be restored. Three buildings in Chennai city that would be restored are Chepauk based Humayun Mahal, Mint Street based government printing press and George Town based former deputy inspector general of registrations office in Rajaji Salai. Heritage experts from educational institutions like IIT Madras and Anna University would play crucial part with their ideas in these restoration works.
