The old residence of the director of Gole Dak Khana, the historic General Post Office, on Ashoka Road is set to be restored by the end of September to ensure its cultural significance is preserved.
The work on the colonial building is being executed by the Architectural Heritage Division, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Delhi chapter.
An official of INTACH told Patriot that conservation of the building is currently underway and scheduled to be completed within two months.
“We have repaired the windows and doors of the structure. Wherever necessary, we have also whitewashed and fixed them,” the official stated.
He said that other agencies previously used to do cement plastering on the walls of the rooms which adversely impacted it.
“But we have shifted to lime punning now as it is a more effective method to conserve the heritage buildings,” he said.
INTACH has also undertaken terrazzo flooring work for the director’s residence.
“It is mosaic flooring consisting of small pieces of marble or granite set in mortar and given high polish. It is embedded in a cementitious or epoxy matrix. The flooring is considered antislippery,” he said.
The official said that currently, they have used plywood on the outer slope of the building.
“Later, we will add terracotta tiles over it to avoid water seepage,” he said adding that they have also carried out the restoration of the outer part of the building and done lime punning. They have also waterproofed the building.
“The government agency which had earlier carried out restoration work here used bitumen felt sheets but we have removed them. We have done its waterproofing in a better way to ensure its safety,” he said.
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“We have used brick tiles, then concrete layer and finally waterproofing chemical over it,” he added.
The garden of the residential building will also be renovated in the end and flowers will be planted there.
Housing four rooms, two washrooms, and one kitchen, the building was the residence of the Director of Gole Dak Khana in the past. Due to lack of efforts from government agencies, the building was handed over to INTACH for restoration.
The building has also served as the residence of British officials who worked in this post office during the colonial period.
Built in the 1930s during British rule, Gole Dak Khana played a crucial role in the communication network of the time, serving as a central hub for postal operations.
Over the years, it witnessed the city’s transformation and growth, remaining a steadfast symbol of continuity and service.
The post office is located at a prime location with proximity to India Gate, Jantar Mantar, Gole Market, government residences, and offices.
Besides embodying history, culture, and architecture of New Delhi, the circular shape of the structure is frequently visited by national and international tourists.
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It continues to function as a major post office, offering a wide range of postal services. From services like saving account schemes, insurance, Indian postal orders, booking and delivery mails, among others, the post office continues to serve thousands of customers every day despite digital despite digital communication coming into vogue.
