Two major town halls in the city will sport a brand new look within months. Renovation work worth `1.5 crore is set to commence in Ernakulam North and Mattanchery town halls.
Tenders have been floated for the renovation work of the two. According to the civic body, programme bookings will be stopped and both of the halls will be closed down soon for renovation. The civic body plans to expedite the renovation work to open the new halls for public within three months. The renovation project is one of the major public works to be undertaken by the Corporation this year.
As a multiyear project spanning 2012 to 2013 and 2013 to 2014, `75 lakh has been allotted for each hall under the plan fund.
“The halls will be completely changed and wear a changed look, both at the structural and aesthetic level. Leakages have started appearing in the roofs of Mattanchery Town Hall and panelling on walls have begun to splinter. Besides, rectifying the repair, the electrical lines that have been damaged will be re-wired. The same issues at the EMS hall and the main hall of the Ernakulam Town Hall will be addressed. The drainage systems will also be upgraded in the Ernakulam Town Hall,” said Corporation Works Committee chairperson Soumini Jain.
The earlier plans to revamp the halls came to a halt due to shortage of funds. As the works are being commissioned with the plan fund, the civic body will have to complete the project before next March.
Civil engineers said they are extremely cautious with the renovation work as the halls are also of historic significance.
However, members from the Opposition pointed out a major lacuna in the proposal.
They said that no plans have been made to to handle the parking chaos in front of the Ernakulam Town Hall as part of the Metro construction.