Two 1920-era heritage clock towers housed in the sprawling campus of the Rashtrapati Bhawan have been carefully restored with President Pranab Mukherjee to inaugurate the vintage structures in the next two days.
The towers in schedule ‘A’ and schedule ‘B’ areas of the President’s Estate were built by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1924 and 1925 respectively. Lutyens was the chief architect for the design of the imperial capital of New Delhi, who also co-designed the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
On Friday, Mr. Mukherjee will inaugurate the tower in schedule ‘A’ area, while the other one would be opened on July 25. The event will also mark the completion of the third year of his presidency, said a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
The schedule ‘A’ clock tower was built as an institute for men of the President’s Bodyguard. Since 1947, it has been occupied by the President’s Bodyguard as its Regimental Head Quarter. The schedule ‘B’ clock tower was known as ‘Band House’ and used for residential purposes. Both the clock towers are centrally located in the avenue that runs diagonally and is part of the original design intent of Lutyens.
The clock system installed in the tower at schedule ‘A’ is inscribed with the name “Pulsynetic”, which indicates that its manufacturer was Gent and Company of Leicester, UK. The
Gent and Company’s electric clocks adorn many important buildings around the world, the statement said.
The clock system installed in the other tower is inscribed with J B Joyce & Co Ltd, Whitchurch 1924”. The J B Joyce & Co. clocks also adorn many buildings around the world, the release added.
“Restoration work of both the clock towers has been done by INTACH while repair of clocks has been done by IIT, Delhi. The buildings were precisely documented and analysed prior to restoration. — PTI
