2 hours ago
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Two heritage structures in Cuddalore — a 300-year-old building dating back to the 17th century, which earlier served as the Medical Officer’s bungalow and the more than a century-old Port Officer’s building, which are now in disuse in Devanampattinam — are set to be restored.
The Building Centre and Conservation Division of the Public Works Department has planned the restoration of the two heritage structures at a total cost of ₹10.15 crore in view of their historical value and present condition.
The department will be soon inviting bids for carrying out the two projects to restore the buildings back to their original shape.
Sprawling across 4,758 square feet, the single-storey Medical Officer’s bungalow with a Mangalore-tiled roof was constructed in the 17th century. The building has many arches resembling the Indo-Saracenic type of architecture.
The PWD officials said the building was not in use for the last several decades and that it was in a distressed condition with broken windows and damaged rafters and beams, seepage on the walls, and plants taking roots in the building’s walls.
The ₹5.25-crore work, includes reconstruction of brick masonry wall with similar type of bricks in lime mortar, re-plastering of wall pillars and arches, replacement of flooring with Cuddapah stones, renewal of damaged ornamental cornice, redoing of Madras terrace roof in all floors, renewal of teak wood panelled door shutters and fixing of fully-glazed shutters for windows among others.
The Port Officer’s bungalow located near the heritage structure is also set to be restored. Spread across 5,652 square feet, the single-storey structure initially functioned as the office of the Port Officer in Cuddalore.
The PWD officials said the building, a combination of red bricks, Cuddapah stone and Mangalore tiled roof, had suffered extensive damage over the decades. The rear side on the ground floor and the walls were fully damaged.
The restoration work would begin soon, the official added.
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