The two-phase project will be a joint collaboration between the Central Public Works Department and the Delhi chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage
Eighty years and 13 Presidents later, the iconic palace of the Indian head of the state is finally getting a facelift. The 330-acre Rashtrapati Bhavan that has 65 structures will undergo several phases of conservation.
The Presidential Secretariat commissioned the conservation work to the Delhi chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). INTACH collaborated with the central public works department to create a plan for the first phase.
The main building – The President’s House – will see work happening during the second phase of the facelift. A detailed project report (DPR) will be submitted next month for the conservation work on the building.
Speaking to DNA, an official from the President’s House said that the main intent was to restore the original characteristics of Edwin Lutyen’s architecture. “While the buildings and the landscape retain their original flavour, the subject of additional functional requirements to cater to the needs of the President’s Estate need to be addressed,” the official added.
Rashtrapati Bhavan is a Grade A heritage building, as identified by the New Delhi Municipal Corporation and is considered by many as one of Lutyen’s best works.
“Although Rashtrapati Bhavan is a single, unified complex, it was decided to divide the project in two phases. The first phase will tackle the precinct and second phase will tackle the main building itself,” said Ajay Kumar, the project director at INTACH.
Lime mortar mixed with jaggery and non-salty sand is being used in the conservation process. The main building has four floors with 340 rooms. The palace with two lakh square feet floor space has been made with 700 million bricks and 3.5 million cubic feet of stone, with some steel. The overall cost of restoration work, including adding the electrical fittings, is approximated at Rs 10 crore.
“The work at Rashtrapati Bhavan will hopefully serve as an example and model to encourage other institutions to adopt a scientific measure to conserve and manage heritage structures,” said Swapna Liddle, Convenor, INTACH.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Rashtrapati Bhavan")
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}