New Delhi, The Municipal Corporation of Delhi is working with the Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation on a plan to turn the historic Town Hall into a cultural hub for public use, officials said on Friday.
MCD turns to DTTDC seeking revival of its iconic Town Hall building
The original idea, according to officials, was to use part of the 160-year old complex which served as the municipal body’s headquarters in Chandni Chowk in the past for public functions. The relocation of the City Sadar Paharganj zonal office to the Town Hall was also being mulled.
However, the civic body is now looking at conserving, restoring, and repurposing it in a way that keeps its heritage character while opening it up to the public under a revenue-sharing arrangement, officials said.
Further, they said, the work required in the building is extensive, and the cost to fully restore it is yet to be determined, as the area is substantial.
“We are working on a proposal to fully renovate and restore the building. Initial assessment suggests that the cost is going to be more than ₹100 crore, but the exact cost is yet to be determined,” a senior Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation official said.
Last week, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi wrote to the DTTDC, seeking a proposal on heritage redevelopment and tourism, officials said.
“Previously, we had approached other agencies as well; finally, the DTTDC is working on a proposal to develop the heritage building into a cultural centre showcasing the history of Delhi and the corporation,” an official said.
The town hall was classified as a Grade-A heritage structure, the highest protection category under Delhi’s heritage regulations, which puts it in the same bracket as some of the city’s most significant historical buildings, officials said. Built between 1860 and 1863 in mid-colonial style, the structure sits on a plot with an expanse of more than 13,000 square metres and has three buildings.
The letter, from the City Sadar Paharganj zone, asked DTTDC to look at the proposal, suggest how it could get involved, identify relevant schemes, and outline a broad plan to move the project ahead. The corporation said the guidance would help it restore the building and bring it into the city’s cultural and tourism fold.
“We are considering if a ticketing system should be put in place so that the heritage building’s finances are taken care of in the near future. It may help in making it self-sustaining as the footfall increases,” an official said.
MCD owns the Town Hall, which served as its headquarters from 1866 to 2012. The building has been sitting vacant since then.
According to officials, the heritage cell of the MCD has restored documents, machines from the old printing press, maps and old artifacts.
“We are in the process of restoring several old documents, pictures and other important cartographic records which will be displayed in the restored town hall,” an official said, adding that a few maps of Delhi, which are more than a century old, are being restored right now.
“A map of Delhi from 1924, few books, printing press machines from 1926 are being restored which maybe displayed there,” the official added.
In 2025, the MCD hired a consultant to prepare a project report for the 163-year-old structure. But after a review, the plan was expanded to revive the entire complex as a public cultural space.
Ahead of the G20 Summit, MCD carried out basic repairs, but officials say that since 2012, the building has deteriorated steadily. Ceiling plaster has come down in sections, entry to parts of the structure has been restricted and years of deferred maintenance have taken a visible toll on the heritage building.
Various proposals to repurpose it as a heritage hotel, a museum complex, a government office have fallen by the wayside.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The entry of BJP backed candidate, Satish Nandal for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election for two seats from Haryana will put the unity and integrity of 37 Congress MLAs under scrutiny while putting the leadership of Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda to a critical test in what could turn out to be a closely watched contest.
Satish Nandal (HT Photo)
Three candidates – Sanjay Bhatia of the BJP, Karamvir Singh Boudh of the Congress and Satish Nandal as an independent – filed their nominations on Thursday, the last date for filing nominations, for the two Upper House berths that will fall vacant on April 9 following the end of the terms of BJP MPs, Ram Chander Jangra and Kiran Choudhry.
Unless Nandal withdraws his nomination by March 9 or one of the three candidates’ nominations gets rejected during scrutiny, polling will take place on March 16 with counting to be held the same evening.
As per the formula devised for the Rajya Sabha polls, 31 votes each would be required for the two candidates to make it to the Upper House of Parliament from Haryana. The Haryana Assembly has 90 MLAs.
In ideal circumstances, the ruling BJP with 48 votes and the Congress with 37 votes are set to secure one seat each without the need for a contest. However, the contest becomes complex if it turns into a three-horse race.
BJP backed Nandal can’t win without Congress support
The candidature of Satish Nandal, designated as one of the state vice presidents of Haryana BJP, was proposed by three independents and seven BJP MLAs. Electoral arithmetic suggests that the BJP backed independent candidate cannot win unless eight Congress MLAs cross vote. The anti defection law does not apply in Rajya Sabha polls. Political parties, though, can take disciplinary action against errant MLAs.
For Nandal to sail through, he would need 17 second preference votes of the BJP, three votes of the independent MLAs, two votes of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and at least eight votes of the Congress MLAs. INLD chief Abhay Chautala told HT that they haven’t given the prospects of supporting Nandal a thought.
“It is too high a number for effecting a cross vote in favour of Nandal. The BJP backed independent can possibly win only if a certain number of Congress MLAs cross vote, abstain or their ballots are declared invalid. But then Haryana is quite notorious for such political harakiri,’’ said a former election official.
Nandal who contested the 2019 assembly election from Garhi-Sampla Kiloi constituency in Rohtak on a BJP symbol and lost to Congress leader, Bhupinder Singh Hooda by over 58,000 votes told HT that he would reach out to both the Congress and INLD MLAs to vote for him.
When it was pointed out that if Congress MLAs extended support to him, their own party candidate would lose the poll, Nandal said, “See, it is an election. They (Congress) MLAs are also my brethren. Personal relations also matter a lot.” The independent candidate would need much more than personal equations to win the second seat.
Will the ongoing US–Israel–Iran war weigh on Dubai’s real estate market, with the mid‑segment housing category likely to feel the impact? Real estate experts say that buyers who have already booked homes may seek to renegotiate terms or secure higher discounts, while prospective purchasers are likely to adopt a wait-and-watch approach until the situation stabilises. Some investors could also redirect capital toward premium residential projects in India, they said.
Dubai real estate: In the mid-market segment, negotiations are expected to intensify, with end users seeking better deals and investors becoming more conservative about new commitments, say experts. (Photo for representational purposes only) (Pexels)
They say that if the conflict continues, the market may see a broader moderation in transaction volumes, new launches, investor sentiment and overall buying appetite. Mid-market buyers are expected to negotiate more aggressively in the coming months, while developers may defer new project launches. HNIs could reassess the timing of large-ticket investments and become more cautious about new commitments. Prolonged uncertainty may even prompt a modest shift of capital from Dubai to India, at least in the near term.
“If the US-Israel-Iran war drags on, the Dubai real estate market could witness a pullback in momentum across volumes, new launches, investor sentiment and overall appetite. Buyers may adopt a wait-and-watch approach or negotiate harder for better bargains in the next few months, but everything depends on the duration, how long the conflict lasts,” explains Amit Goenka, CMD, Nisus Finance. In February, the company announced the expansion of its UAE property portfolio with a ₹247 crore investment in residential apartments in Majan, Dubai.
“After price growth of 18% last year and 24% the year before, similar appreciation levels may not be sustained in the near term. New launches could be deferred, and HNIs may reassess the timing of major investments,” he said.
In the mid-market segment (properties in the ₹3 crore to ₹8 crore range), negotiations are expected to intensify, with end users seeking better deals and investors becoming more conservative about new commitments. High-value transactions are therefore likely to remain muted for some time, as HNIs may defer large-ticket purchases, he said.
Amid broader sell-offs in financial markets, there could be a temporary flight to safety, with commodities such as gold and silver gaining traction. At the same time, equities and property remain under pressure, he said.
Other experts said that while there is no clarity on how long the current situation may persist, Dubai has historically demonstrated resilience, rebounding swiftly from disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2008 Lehman crisis.
At this stage, the impact on “the real estate market appears to be driven more by sentiment than by any fundamental structural shift. It would be premature to draw any long-term conclusions at this point. While developments like these can create temporary uncertainty, the underlying fundamentals remain resilient. I remain confident in a steady and sustainable path of growth ahead,” said Rizwan Sajan, founder and chairman, Danube Group.
What makes Dubai a popular real estate investment destination?
Dubai’s appeal as a property investment hub lies in its tax-friendly regime, residency-linked investment framework and attractive rental yields of almost 6–8%. Experts say property prices have climbed 20–40% over the past two years, supported by strong global demand.
Indians accounted for 10% of property sales in Dubai in 2025, up from 6% in 2024, according to a Knight Frank report. Several Indian real estate firms are also developing projects or planning new launches in the region.
The buyer mix is also important to understand. The ₹3–8 crore mid- segment is largely supported by professionals and resident buyers, many of whom rely on mortgages. Ticket sizes above that are dominated by HNIs investing in ultra-luxury properties that offer lifestyle value alongside returns. The ₹3–8 crore price segment is virtually absent in prime Dubai locations; such budgets are typically suited to areas like Ras Al Khaimah, Silicon Oasis, Furjan and Ajman among others, explained a real estate expert who asked not to be named.
Investor interest for ultra-high-end properties broadly comes from two segments: ultra-high-net-worth individuals, including Indian business owners and Bollywood stars who invest in prime Dubai properties. A report by Knight Frank said demand for villas outpaced apartments among HNWIs in 2025, with branded residences also emerging as a preferred choice.
What will be the impact of the US-Israel-Iran war on the Dubai real estate market?
During periods of geopolitical uncertainty, property markets typically enter a phase of caution. Buyers tend to adopt a wait-and-watch approach, postponing deal closures until there is greater clarity. If tensions persist, some investors, may delay purchases or negotiate more aggressively. In the short term, demand could moderate as decisions are deferred, and rental yields may also come under pressure, say real estate experts.
What happens next will depend largely on the duration of the crisis. A prolonged situation could lead to a sentiment-driven pause, slower transaction volumes, price corrections and stronger buyer-side negotiations before stability returns, they said.
“The current situation in the Middle East is clearly making real estate investors more cautious, especially in markets like Dubai that have long been seen as safe and stable for investment,” said Pyush Lohia, Managing Director, Lohia Worldspace.
“While we are not seeing panic selling at this stage, there is a clear ‘wait-and-watch’ approach among buyers. In the short term, this could slightly slow down sales activity as investors take time to reassess risks and timelines before making new decisions, particularly with a large number of new units expected to enter the market this year.”
The Dubai market offered attractive rental yields of 6–8%. “In the short term, rentals could see some pressure, with leasing activity expected to remain subdued for the next six to eight months. Rentals may decline by 5-7%,” said an expert.
As for new project launches, they may be postponed by 2 to 3 quarters if uncertainty persists, leading to a slowdown in new supply. Notably, this year was projected to see a record supply of nearly 1,20,000 units, but prevailing risks could trigger a temporary correction in the Dubai market, said experts.
Will the US-Israel-Iran war lead to a shift in capital from Dubai to India?
Morgan Owen, managing director, Middle East and North Africa at ANAROCK Group, has said that investment redirection is possible. “Indians and other NRIs make up one of Dubai’s biggest groups of buyers, accounting for about 10% of sales in 2025. They are drawn to the high returns and low taxes,” he said.
“If risk perception increases consistently, a small but significant shift of capital from Dubai to India is possible,” he said, adding that Dubai’s structural appeal is likely to prevent abrupt or impulsive reallocations.
Gaurav Gupta of Zeno Realty is of the view that the current uncertainty in Dubai may prompt a small fraction of Indian HNIs to re-evaluate allocations, including to premium Indian markets like Gurugram.
“But we’re talking about a few hundred HNIs at best in the near term and at this stage, I don’t see it triggering a meaningful capital exodus. Dubai today is a full ecosystem infrastructure, tax efficiency, lifestyle, regulatory clarity. One episode is unlikely to reverse that flywheel. Only If this uncertainty were to persist over a prolonged period, then yes, capital could meaningfully diversify toward hubs like Singapore, London, or even Indian luxury corridors. But as long as its a one-off incident, then its only a near short term issue than beginning of a structural shift in capital flows,” he said.
Experts concurred that it is unlikely to be a large-scale shift of capital to other countries, as few cities offer the same combination of affordable luxury, lifestyle appeal and global connectivity as Dubai.
As for whether investors would liquidate assets in Dubai and redeploy capital into India, that appears unlikely. Real estate experts said that currency depreciation and potential tax implications for NRIs may encourage many to retain or reinvest their funds overseas.
Some experts believe NRI investments into Indian real estate, particularly in the luxury segment, could also see a temporary slowdown amid the current geopolitical tensions. Gulf-based NRIs may pause luxury home investments until the situation stabilises, rather than commit to high-value property purchases in India, they said.
Iran , on Wednesday announced a three-day farewell for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed during the joint military operation by the United States and Israel. According to Iranian state media, Khamenei’s farewell will begin at 10 pm local time.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed last week during the joint operation by US and Israel (REUTERS)
As per reports, the ceremony will be held at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini prayer ground. Citing Hojjatoleslam Mahmoudi, head of Iran’s Islamic Propagation Council, state media reported that the farewell ceremony would continue for three days, and a funeral procession will be announced later.
“The Mosalla (prayer hall) will be receiving visitors and the dear people can attend and take part in the farewell ceremony and mark a strong presence once again,” he said in comments carried by Iranian media.
As per state media, the farewell ceremony will be held at the Grand Mosalla Mosque in Tehran.
The Mosalla, which is also known as the Imam Khomeini Mosalla of Tehran, is a partially completed mosque in Tehran. It is mainly used for hosting weekly Friday prayers, along with other ceremonies.
The Mosalla has remained under construction for over 30 years. Apart from Friday prayers, the mosque complex is also used as a community centre and serves as a venue for local and national events.
Khamenei’s son likely to be next Supreme Leader
As per a report by Iran International, Ayatollah Khamenei’s son Mojtaba has been chosen as the successor to his father and will take over as Supreme leader after the funeral.
Furthermore, senior Israeli officials told Ynet news that the Assembly is expected to formally announce Mojtaba as the successor in the coming hours.
Despite these reports, Iran is yet to announce the name of the next Supreme Leader.
The book is written in a very conversational manner – like the best-researched Instagram caption in the world! Why did you avoid opting for a more academic tone?
Author Sindhu Rajasekaran (Sushant Desai/Aleph)
That’s how I speak! The editor at Simon & Schuster, Megha Mukherjee, and I worked very closely throughout the book. I would write it for her to read, and then she’d ask me questions and say, tell me more about this, and then I would read (and write) more about that particular aspect. So, it was a very conversational book.
Did you focus on fashion to give due dignity to the queer community and the ways in which they use fashion as resistance?
Yeah, absolutely. I love fashion myself, and the way I came upon this historical context had to do with the entire queer community, but especially with trans women, because they were the ones persecuted the most by the colonial establishment for flouting what they considered appropriate clothing for men. Surprisingly, women or female-bodied persons were also persecuted for dressing in what they considered trans-sexual or gender fluid manners, because according to the British, they were cross-dressing. In the ‘lock hospital’ (hospitals where the criminally prosecuted were housed) records, the officers complain about how Indian women are dressed. It made me realise that back in the day, people dressed to express their gender and sexuality. They were not policed in their attire and that reflected across socio-economic strata. And I was constantly surprised to find this, especially as what we consider edgy fashion now is gender-fluid fashion, and it had been there in the subcontinent in the first place.
Do you worry that you’ve portrayed pre-modern times as being too idealistic?
I have been very careful to give a disclaimer right in the beginning that India was always casteist and classist, and I give examples of that as well. I’ve said also that India was not some Rousseauian paradise of sexual freedom ever. But despite there being religious and political radicalism, all of these proto-feminist and queer sub-cultures have existed because people have resisted consistently, and they’ve built spaces for themselves. So, my examination of the past is to do with these transgressive folks, who have consistently existed since the beginning but were erased in coloniality because Brahman pundits and Islamic maulvis wanted to present their religions as pure, pristine, and equal to puritanical Christianity.
Is it fair to say that the pockets of resistance that existed in India prior to the British, were the ones that were clamped down on legally, socially, medically, during colonial rule?
Yes, because these proto feminist queer subcultures were also places where people could transcend their caste, class and other positionalities. For example, courtesan communities and performing arts communities would consistently adopt children who were excluded or marginalized by the rest of society. If you mix blood, if you don’t belong to the varna system, you could fit into these spaces. But these spaces were erased by the British because they said, if you don’t have a proper puritanical bloodline to claim, then, as a woman, you’re a prostitute, and as a man, you’re a eunuch. So queer people, where do they exist in that?
There are detailed examinations of how Hindu communities functioned, and how Brahminical patriarchs affected them. But not much about Islamic maulvis. Why is that?
That’s a fair comment. This whole book happened as a result of my very subjective examination of the past, based on my identity and me trying to understand my own heritage. So, I’ve been looking at Brahminical patriarchy for that reason, and how it has affected Hindu society. The bulk of my research, even in my PhD, was to do with that. Then I would go and find sources to also see what was going on in these Islamic communities at the same time, and wherever I could find the sources, I would add them. So, it’s mainly to do with the sources, because I’m trying not to interpret without sources. The availability probably exists, it’s just that I was focused on a (different) area.
My favourite chapter is the one about undoing queer kinship patterns, which mentions that there were these alternative forms of kinship that existed in India that were forcibly undone.
I’m so glad you think so. A lot of my thinking with respect to that, was influenced by my PhD supervisor, Professor Mahn, who wrote a book called Desi Queers (Desi Queers: LGBTQ+ South Asians and Cultural Belonging in Britain by Churnjeet Mahn, DJ Ritu, and Rohit K Dasgupta). That was very primary to me regarding understanding queer kinship patterns, because we’re always trying to mimic or transpose the heterosexual family pattern onto it and missing the point.
Keeping this chapter in mind, how do you think learning about this past and getting rid of this kind of postcolonial amnesia can help us establish our futures?
That’s a tough question. Every individual should have the freedom to construct the reality that they want and to have the family that they want, to have the life that they want, and I think that’s what I want to establish through this. When I was growing up in India, one of the things I was constantly told was that, oh, you’re being gay to be cool, trying to ape Western ideas. You’re not; you’re just finding terminologies to understand yourself for whatever is currently available, and I’m hoping that learning about queerness in India helps with that. I’m also hoping that, after reading this book, you don’t have to box yourself. The idea of queerness is always in. Your desire is multiple.
What can we do to bring in the social changes we require? Does the legal structure need to change first? Or do researchers, journalists and queer people need to bring back these memories into the sociocultural consciousness?
I think it is a simultaneous thing, and it feeds into each other. Senior lawyer Saurabh Kirpal said that the law is not static. Till the British brought these laws in, nobody even thought to legislate this. I remember when Section 377 was read down, it felt like such a weight lifting. The law is so important. But again, what did the government say? They said that queer marriage does not match India’s idea of a nuclear family of husband, wife, child. But that was never an Indian idea. I call it the Victorian sanskar. I live in Canada, which luckily is a safe space at the moment, but you see the United States, and then you see the UK, where queer people’s rights are being depleted, and you see how society is informing that. I think it has to be a collective, simultaneous action.
Rush Mukherjee is an independent journalist based in Kolkata.
