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Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
NDMC finalises plan to build clock tower at Talkatora roundabout
New Delhi: New Delhi Municipal Council has finalised the design and prepared cost estimates for constructing a clock tower at Talkatora Roundabout, following approval from Delhi Urban Art Commission last month. NDMC vice-chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal announced on Sunday that the clock tower would be a prominent architectural addition aimed at enhancing the visual identity of Lutyens' Delhi. The tower is planned to stand approximately 27 metres tall, featuring a 2-metre diameter clock. It will have an octagonal shape and be built using reinforced cement concrete, finished with a layer of clay bricks to give it a classic appearance. The area surrounding the tower will be landscaped with granite flooring, steel railings and marble decorations to further elevate the site's aesthetic appeal. The total cost of the project is estimated at Rs 1.3 crore, with the target for completion set for Dec 2025. The proposal may be presented in an upcoming council meeting for final approval. Chahal noted that many municipal bodies across the country featured iconic clock towers that reflected the heritage and architectural character of their cities. NDMC, he said, was now set to create its own landmark structure of similar cultural and symbolic value. He emphasised that the new tower would not only serve as a visual attraction for Lutyens' Delhi but also act as a symbolic gateway into NDMC area from neighbouring MCD regions, such as Rajendra Nagar and Karol Bagh. For maintenance purposes, internal stairs will be built within the structure and safety railings will be installed around its base, which will also feature marble embellishments. According to Chahal, the initiative aligns with the national mission to beautify Indian cities and protect their cultural heritage. Prior to design finalisation, NDMC commissioned a soil test at the proposed site through a private agency, which confirmed the location's suitability for supporting the structure. Since the project required changes to the existing site layout, NDMC submitted an updated proposal to DUAC, including technical details of the "Ghantaghar" plan. DUAC granted its consent in April after reviewing the revised submission. The plan to build a clock tower was initiated after LG VK Saxena's inspection of the NDMC area in April. Historically, New Delhi Town Hall once had a clock tower on top of its headquarters, but it was demolished in the 1980s to make way for the current NDMC building. The new tower at Talkatora Roundabout seeks to revive that legacy with a fresh architectural landmark in the heart of the city. . MSID:: 121547967 413 |
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
NDMC to build iconic clock tower at Talkatora roundabout
NEW DELHI: The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has finalised a design and prepared the estimates for constructing a clock tower at the Talkatora Roundabout after receiving necessary approvals from the Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC) last month. NDMC Vice Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal on Sunday informed that a magnificent clock tower will be constructed at the Talkatora Roundabout with the aim of enhancing the visual identity and architectural beauty of Lutyens' Delhi. 'It will be approximately 27 metres tall and feature a 2-metre diameter clock. The structure will have an octagonal design, constructed using RCC (Reinforced Cement Concrete), and will be adorned with a layer of clay bricks,' he said. The surrounding area will feature granite flooring, steel railings, and marble decorations. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 1.3 crore, and the target is to complete construction by December 2025. The project might be tabled in the council meeting for final approval. Chahal stated that most municipal bodies across the country have iconic clock towers as symbols of a city's identity, heritage, and architectural significance, and now NDMC will also develop such a grand architectural landmark. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like They Lost Their Money - Learn From Their Lesson Expertinspector Click Here Undo 'It will not only serve as a new attraction for Lutyens' Delhi but also mark the entry point into the NDMC area from nearby MCD regions such as Rajendra Nagar and Karol Bagh. There will be internal stairs constructed at the facility to enable maintenance and repairs. For safety, railings will be installed around the tower, and the base will be decorated with marble,' stated the Vice Chairman while adding that the project reflects the national mission of beautifying Indian cities and preserving cultural heritage. Earlier, the NDMC got the soil of the proposed location tested for building the clock tower via a private agency at the proposed site (Talkatora Roundabout), and the soil was found suitable for building the clock tower structure. 'Since construction of the tower required amendments in the layout plan, NDMC sent an updated proposal to DUAC for approval. The agency took some specific details, including technical ones, about the Ghantaghar layout plan from NDMC, and gave consent in April,' said an official earlier. NDMC initiated a search for a suitable location to erect a clock tower following Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena's inspection in April. Previously, the 'New Delhi Town Hall' featured a clock tower atop its headquarters, but the structure was demolished in the 1980s to make way for the present NDMC building.
Hindustan Times
13-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Kasturba Nagar GPRA plan again fails Delhi Urban Art Commission test
In a setback to the government's flagship housing project in south Delhi, the Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC) has, for the second time, rejected the revised proposal for Phase 2 of the Kasturba Nagar general pool residential accommodation (GPRA) redevelopment after raising concerns over inadequate planning, inefficient land use and poor compliance with its earlier observations. The decision is expected to delay the project further, said officials. The commission has directed the Central Public Works Department (CPWD)—which is executing the project—to revise the layout again, reducing road width and increasing green cover. 'The double road between the primary school and banquet hall appears unnecessary… the space thus released can be utilised to enhance the green cover,' DUAC said in its latest observations. The project is part of the Centre's plan to redevelop seven GPRA colonies across south Delhi. Of these, three are being handled by NBCC, while CPWD is in charge of four—two of them, Mohammadpur and Thyagraj Nagar, have already been completed. The remaining two—Kasturba Nagar and Srinivaspuri—are currently under construction. DUAC had initially approved the redevelopment plan for Kasturba Nagar in January 2020. However, officials said that the new version of the layout plan, submitted recently, included several unmarked modifications that did not address previously flagged gaps. The commission reiterated that the latest submission lacked clarity and remained 'incomplete and incomprehensible'. DUAC had earlier requested a clear layout, a comprehensive mobility plan with a detailed parking matrix, and clarity on movement patterns across the site. The revised proposal still fails to fully meet these requirements, it said. In its detailed feedback, DUAC pointed out that a dedicated road proposed for banquet hall access was an 'inefficient use of space', contributing to an increase in hard-paved surfaces. 'The double road between the primary school and banquet hall appears unnecessary as it occupies excessive space. It is recommended to remove the double road and instead provide a single, shared access road serving the primary school, banquet hall, residential towers, and the future senior secondary school plot. The space thus released can be utilized to enhance the green cover,' DUAC noted. Further, DUAC noted that the provision for air conditioning had not been adequately explained, and instructed that solar panels be integrated into the design at a height that allows for functional shading beneath them. Phase 2 of the Kasturba Nagar project includes an anganwadi, convenient shops, a coaching centre, a banquet hall, a podium, and a residential complex comprising 25 towers and 1,350 flats. The overall redevelopment spans 19.15 hectares, with over 3,500 housing units planned. The colony is bounded by Bhisham Pitamah Marg to the east, Chaudhary Chandu Lal Balmiki Marg to the west, and lies adjacent to the Sewa Nagar railway station and Barapullah elevated road in the north. CPWD officials did not respond to requests for comment.
Hans India
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Casting Narasimha Rao's legacy in Bronze! Final approval awaited
New Delhi: A proposal to install a statue of former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao in New Delhi has received a crucial approval, pending final clearance from the Centre before its installation at Telangana Bhavan, said sources. Although the bureaucratic green signal is still awaited, officials from Telangana Bhavan and the NDMC stated that the proposal did not originate from their offices. A Telangana Bhavan official mentioned that the Revanth Reddy-led state government is planning a new dedicated Bhavan for Telangana on Ashoka Road, making the statue installation premature. The Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC) approved the proposal on March 27, forwarded by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). Alongside the approval, the DUAC suggested repairing broken pavements around the site and installing appropriate lighting to enhance visibility at night, sources said. Since its formation in 2014, Telangana has been sharing its Bhavan premises with Andhra Pradesh. The official emphasised that proceeding with a statue installation at this stage may not be appropriate. The proposal reportedly came from the P.V. Narasimha Rao Memorial Foundation, which requested permission in April 2024 to install a bronze statue of Rao next to that of Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu, Andhra Pradesh's first Chief Minister. The final decision regarding the statue's location -- inside or outside Telangana Bhavan -- and the timeline will depend on political approval. If the Centre grants permission, this would be the third honour given to Rao by the BJP-led NDA government. In 2015, the government approved a memorial for him at Ekta Sthal in the Rajghat Complex. In February 2024, Rao was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour. Rao is not the only Congress leader recognised by the BJP-led Centre. In January, the government approved memorials for former President Pranab Mukherjee and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the Rashtriya Smriti complex near Rajghat. During his tenure as Prime Minister from 1991 to 1996, Rao played a pivotal role in economic liberalisation and witnessed the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992. His relationship with Sonia Gandhi remained strained, and after his death in 2004, his body was notably absent from the Congress party headquarters. Following the Bharat Ratna announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Rao as a distinguished scholar and statesman.
