Time restored atop historic Hall Gate in Amritsar

In an era dominated by smartwatches and smartphones, clock towers have become symbols of nostalgia and aesthetics. While the world has upgraded the process of timekeeping, these towers stand as reminders of the old world order, traditions that used to be a way of life. A similar feeling was evoked when the old wall clock atop the historic Hall Gate, also known as Gandhi Gate (post-Independence) was recently restored with the efforts of Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney and her team.

The British-era clock, installed around 1873, the same time the Hall Gate was constructed, has started ticking again after decades of lying defunct. This iconic wall clock, added shortly after the gate’s completion, was designed by John Gordon, the then Executive Engineer of Amritsar. Just above the clock is a phrase that has since become synonymous with the city —Sifti Da Ghar (Home to the Virtuous).

The clock has been restored by officials from the Public Works Department (PWD), with PWD XEN Rajiv Kumar playing a key role in making it functional after decades. “There are very few people who can repair or restore such old wall clocks. We had asked the Electrical Wing of the PWD to study the mechanism and design a plan for the restoration. Initially, we approached skilled clock restorers from Malerkotla and Delhi for the task. The PWD carried out all the groundwork,” said Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney.

The old clock featured iron hands and frame, and operated on a traditional dial-and-lever rotation mechanism, with an alarm ringing every hour. “We initially received a repair estimate of Rs 4 lakh from a team in Punjab, which was quite high. Later, we approached Jagdeep Singh, a Delhi-based clock restorer, who was finalised for the job. It took two days for the team of engineers and our officials to reach the top of the clock tower, as the staircase inside Hall Gate was structurally weak. After extensive cleaning and outer structural repairs, the actual restoration of the clock finally began,” said XEN Rajiv Kumar.

The clock’s original mechanical arm rotation system has now been replaced with a power-generated mechanism. “The original parts were not dismantled, the iron frame was repaired and a 6mm white background sheet was added. The sheet, made in Malaysia, is crafted from a durable material that is not easily breakable. Also, the clock has been upgraded with a GPS and UPS system, providing a 72-hour power backup and a single-phase power supply to ensure continuous operation,” he added.

The entire restoration was completed at a cost of Rs 2.15 lakh. However, the original hourly alarm system has not been revived.

After lying defunct for decades, seeing the timepiece, which was once a symbol of Amritsar’s colonial history and British-era architecture, tick again is truly a moment to remember. For the residents of Amritsar, it brings hope that, with continued effort, the gradual erosion of the city’s historical landmarks might still be prevented.