Date:29/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/29/stories/2008092952370300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Chennai Corporation to restore Victoria Hall

Kannal Achuthan

Appoints consultant to study the building and draw up estimates

— Photo: K.V. Srinivasan

A landmark: A view of the Victoria Public Hall on Poonamallee High Road in Chennai.

CHENNAI: The Chennai Corporation is working on ways to restore the glory of the Victoria Public Hall, a historic building that is about 120 years old.

The Corporation has appointed a consultant to study the building and draw up estimates for its restoration, said Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni. The building, managed by the Victoria Hall Trust, is now in a dilapidated condition as the trust could not mobilise funds for its upkeep.

About two years ago, Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin met a delegation of the trust’s representatives led by A.V.M. Saravanan and industrialist Suresh Krishna. He had assured support from the State government and the Corporation for the restoration of the building. Both the Mayor, M. Subramanian, and Mr. Lakhoni are ex-officio members of the trust.

The trust, in a recent meeting, deliberated on how the hall could be restored. The trust could either be dissolved or made into a government-owned trust to generate funds for the restoration. The Victoria Hall was designed by Robert Chisholm and built by Namberumal Chetty. The proposal for a town hall was put forth by leading citizens of Madras at a meeting in March 1882 at the Pachaiyappa’s Hall in George Town and a trust was formed to manage it.

The Municipal Corporation leased out about three acres in the People’s Park for 99 years beginning April 1, 1886, for the hall. The lease rent was eight annas a ground or Rs.28 for the property. The hall, built in 1887, hosted lectures, balls and stage performances. The Corporation lease expired in 1985, but the trust wanted to extend the land lease and a legal wrangle ensued.

As the restoration of the hall would cost about Rs. 20 crore, the trust is now working on settling the matter amicably and revive the stateliness of a city landmark.