The Hall of Nations and the Hall of Industries, two of the national capital’s iconic modern architectural landmarks, celebrated globally, are now history.
According to the INTACH, which has been fighting a losing legal battle for preservation of the buildings, work to tear down the buildings began on Sunday night and by morning, the halls were reduced to rubble.
The halls, regarded as “modern architecture marvels”, were built at Pragati Maidan to celebrate 25 years of the country’s Independence. The Hall of Nations was inaugurated in 1972 by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi.
“The Hall of Nations and the Hall of Industries have been demolished to make way for a state-of-the-art complex which would immensely add to the profile of the capital city.
“The buildings were not categorised as heritage by the Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC) as those are only 45-years-old. So, we have demolished those for the new project. Demolition of the Nehru Pavilion is still going on,” a senior India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) official said.
The ITPO, headquartered at Pragati Maidan, is a nodal agency under the aegis of the ministry of commerce and industry for promoting the country’s external trade and hosts the famous annual trade fair on its premises.
The ITPO made clear that setting up of an Integrated Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre requires dismantling of Hall No 1 to 6, 14 to 20, state pavilions and others, “including the Hall of Nations, the Nehru Pavilion and the Hall of Industry”.
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