144-year-old Municipal office building to be renovated

PUDUCHERRY: Renovation works of the 144-year-old Municipal building, built by the former French rulers in the 19th century, commenced today with Local Administration Minister N G Panneerelvam laying the corner stone.

It would be renovated a cost of Rs 7.5 crore with the World Bank assistance.

The French named the premises as `Town Hall` (Hotel De Ville) and in course of time the office of Mayor of Puducherry Municipality, the Municipal Council, the Registry and other offices including the office of Registrar of Births and Deaths were housed in the two storied building.

The building housed the Legislative Assembly of Puducherry for four years from 1964 (when the first general election was held in the wakeof de jure transfer of power) before the Assembly was shifted to the present premises in 1969.

The government has obtained the expert advice of the Archaelogical Survey of India (Chennai circle) and also the National Centre for Safety of Heritage structures, the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras for renovation and seismic retrofitting of the building, the release said.