COIMBATORE: The Victoria Hall building in Coimbatore is being renovated to accommodate city corporation council after the urban local body elections are over.
The hall had a seating capacity for only 72 councillors. As the city was expanded to 100 wards by annexing municipalities and town panchayats, engineers are working to accommodate 100 councillors by making some adjustments in the building. Officials said though the space would be cramped, it would be manageable.
Apart from seating arrangements, renovation of roof tiles, painting and sprucing up of electrical lines are being done. Landscaping work to beautify its surroundings would also be carried out, an engineer said.
“Victoria Hall underwent a spruce up in 2014. Only painting and some minor repair work were carried out then. The structure had issues such as water leakage, which has been addressed now,” he said.
The structure was constructed in 1892 in honor of Queen Victoria, The building had accommodated municipal council meetings till 1953. A library functioned there between 1953 and 1986. Later, it was used as a storage space. In the early 1990s, there was a plan to demolish the building. Later, the local body backed off following demands from various quarters. The structure was restored in 1992 at a cost of Rs 15 lakh.
The hall had a seating capacity for only 72 councillors. As the city was expanded to 100 wards by annexing municipalities and town panchayats, engineers are working to accommodate 100 councillors by making some adjustments in the building. Officials said though the space would be cramped, it would be manageable.
Apart from seating arrangements, renovation of roof tiles, painting and sprucing up of electrical lines are being done. Landscaping work to beautify its surroundings would also be carried out, an engineer said.
“Victoria Hall underwent a spruce up in 2014. Only painting and some minor repair work were carried out then. The structure had issues such as water leakage, which has been addressed now,” he said.
The structure was constructed in 1892 in honor of Queen Victoria, The building had accommodated municipal council meetings till 1953. A library functioned there between 1953 and 1986. Later, it was used as a storage space. In the early 1990s, there was a plan to demolish the building. Later, the local body backed off following demands from various quarters. The structure was restored in 1992 at a cost of Rs 15 lakh.
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