NDMC likely to float tender next week

New Delhi, July 23

The North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) has set the ball rolling for hiring a consultant for preparing a fresh restoration plan for the iconic 150-year-old Town Hall in old Delhi and is likely to float a tender next week.

The redevelopment plan seeks a conservation of the Victorian-era mansion that will house a museum, retelling the history of the city, the centre-piece of the attractions that are to be built.

A craft baazar, a dancing fountain, a maze, light and sound programmes, street food, children activity area, a boutique hotel, food court, courtyard and sculpture garden, digital library, lecture rooms, fine dining areas, are also to be developed in its premises.

"The process had already begun. We have prepared the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the project for inviting bids from consultants and the tender for selecting the consultant should be out by next week," a senior official of the NDMC said.

After its Centre-funded restoration plan got shelved, the NDMC has decided to redevelop the historic landmark through a public-private partnership (PPP) model.

North Delhi Mayor Preety Agarwal had last week made the announcement that the redevelopment of the Town Hall in Chandni Chowk - the headquarters of the erstwhile unified MCD - into a centre of cultural and social heritage would be taken up on a PPP model.

"An in-principle approval has been accorded for the PPP project," she said.

North Delhi Municipal Corporation Commissioner Praveen Gupta said the restoration was initially planned to be funded by the Union Tourism Ministry but "could not be materialised on that front" so this new plan has been envisioned.

The Centre had in early 2014 cleared a Rs 50-crore heritage renewal project for the building, but the fund release was subject to preparation of the detailed project report by the NDMC. — PTI