The local municipal corporation’s fear that it may lose the historic Town Hall building, constructed in 1908, is delaying the crucial restoration work the structure requires. While the tourism department has asked the civic body to vacate the building by September or October to start the restoration work, the latter is awaiting an undertaking from the state government that the building would be handed back to it on completion of repair work.

While the Asian Development Bank (ADB) after approving Rs 18.5 crore for restoration of the Town Hall building and beautification of core Mall Road area will be making a presentation before the newly-elected councillors and the mayor on August 1, the state government on its part is yet to respond to the request from the MC to provide suitable space for the time being and to give an undertaking stating that the Town Hall would be handed back to MC once restoration work is completed.

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