Restoration of New Market clock tower may start in a fortnight
Kolkata: A report detailing the scope of work for the restoration of the New Market clock tower was submitted to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) by restoration architect Anjan Mitra on Wednesday.
The document will form the basis of an agreement to be signed between KMC, which owns the 151-year-old market, and Trisys, which is coordinating the restoration funded by a private firm. According to Mitra, though the project received an in-principle approval, a formal agreement needs to be signed, which is likely to be concluded within a fortnight.
Though the tower with the four-faced clock and its Westminster chimes survived many monsoons and storms, it was left battered and bruised by cyclonic storm Amphan.
Lack of maintenance thereafter led to further damage. Water seeped in, causing cracks in the structure. The timber floors and decorative elements, including cast iron railings, will have to be redone. The wooden slats in the spire have fallen apart and the Westminster chimes and hourly dongs have stopped.
Portions of the intricate glasses that made up the 7-ft diameter dials went missing and wild vegetation has taken root.
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There is also fungal growth.
"We will have to strengthen the structural stability of the tower, stop seepage of water, repair the flooring and the interior, improve light and ventilation, replace damaged artwork, and overhaul the clock and its chiming mechanism. The entire work will take around six months," said Mitra, who will lead the restoration team for the project. He has restored the Metropolitan Building, Howrah Town Hall, and Sister Nivedita's house.
Before work begins, Mitra also wants KMC to ensure coordination with police for temporary closure of Fenwick Bazar Street when required, arrangement for electric supply, site to stock repair and restoration material, and identify a place to set up temporary labour shelter.
KMC MMiC market Amiruddin (Bobby) assured the civic body's cooperation with the agency undertaking the restoration. "We want the clock tower to be restored in a manner that will wow visitors and will do everything needed to extend our cooperation," he said.
Swapan and Satyajit Dutta, the father-son duo that repaired and revived multiple public clock mechanisms in the city in recent years, will undertake the restoration of the Gillett & Johnston clock of the UK, in which one mechanism operates all four clocks.
"The clock will need a thorough overhaul. The entire process will take around two months," said Satyajit.
This is the first such restoration of a govt property to be funded by a private firm. Trisys CEO Mudar Patherya, who has banded together heritage lovers to form Kolkata Restorers that crowd-funded illumination of public buildings and repairs of public clocks, said city-based private firm Techno Electric decided to fund the restoration of the New Market clock tower. Company MD P P Gupta said, "I came to the city 50 years ago as a bank employee, ventured into business and established myself.
It feels good to be able to do something for the city."
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