4 months ago
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Two century-old practice buildings astatine the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (IOG), Egmore, volition soon acquisition restoration by the Public Works Department, aimed astatine preserving their historical quality portion adapting them to modern aesculapian use.
After galore decades, the ante natal outpatient artifact and the Gifford School, built a twelvemonth apart, are acceptable to acquisition large restoration astatine a outgo of ₹11.02 crore by February-end.
Built arsenic authorities maternity infirmary connected the banks of the Cooum stream adjacent the Egmore railway presumption successful aboriginal 1800s, it was aboriginal shifted to its existent tract connected Pantheon Road successful 1882.
It was expanded with much blocks until 1921. The infirmary is known to beryllium 1 of the aboriginal facilities built during British play to code women’s reproductive health.
Extensive damage
Officials of the PWD’s Building Centre and Conservation Division created for practice preservation and renovation, said the buildings had suffered 40% to 50% harm owing to ageing and deficiency of periodic conservation.
Established successful 1911, the Gifford School successful the field was named aft Major General Gifford, erstwhile superintendent of the hospital. Besides a assemblage benignant auditorium, it houses uncommon obstetric specimens and instruments, immoderate of them are implicit 60 years old.
As of present lone a tiny information connected the crushed level of the premises is being utilized arsenic a lab. With Health and Family Welfare Department sanctioning funds, the single-storey gathering dispersed implicit 12,916 sq.ft. would get a implicit makeover. The buildings connected the field are a blend of Indo-Saracenic and assemblage epoch architecture.
Like galore ageing historical structures, this 1 excessively needs reconstruction of Madras Terrace roof, plastering utilizing accepted lime mortar, and removal of vegetation, including those connected the terrace. Several ceramic joints and portions of the arches amusement deterioration, said an official.
The crushed level of the ante natal outpatient block, which was constructed successful 1912, is inactive functioning. But the archetypal level of the red-brick operation dispersed implicit 15,833 sq.ft. has remained unused for a fewer years now.
While the Gifford School premises would beryllium vacated, enactment connected the archetypal level would person to beryllium carried retired adjacent arsenic the OPD artifact remains operational. The infirmary conducts astir 20,000 deliveries each year. The task would beryllium completed successful 18 months, officials added.
