Facelift For Another Iconic British-Era Structure in Shimla

SHIMLA: Thanks to a major leg-up from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), a blast from the colonial past will soon greet visitors to Shimla, India's summer capital during the British Raj,with the government set to restore the iconic Town Hall located on The Mall, a favourite haunt of those out for a stroll.

"The building will be restored and conserved as per the original pattern within two years. For this, 8 crore ($1.3 million) has been allocated," Manoj Sharma, joint director with the state tourism department, told IANS. The ADB has provided 70 percent of the money, with the state government chipping in with 30 percent.

The building, constructed in 1908 in the half-timbered Tudor style - all-wooden frames and shingled eaves - currently houses the Shimla Municipal Corporation.

Its exteriors and interiors would be refurbished by polishing and repairing the stonework. The windows and rooftops would be totally replaced and the Gothic facade would be improved.