Bharat Insurance Building
| Bharat Insurance Building | |
|---|---|
 Historical view of the Bharat Insurance Building on Mount Road | |
 Interactive map of the Bharat Insurance Building area | |
| Former names | Kardyl Building |
General information | |
| Status | Under restoration |
Architectural style | Indo-Saracenic |
| Location | Anna Salai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, 102 Anna Salai |
| Coordinates | 13°03′54″N 80°16′02″E / 13.065103°N 80.267288°E |
Construction started | 1894 |
Completed | 1897 |
| Owner | Life Insurance Corporation of India |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | J. H. Stephens |
Bharat Insurance building is a heritage building in Chennai, India. Located on the arterial Anna Salai, it was built in 1897. Originally known as Kardyl Building, the building is an example of the Indo-Saracenic architecture, a hybrid of Muslim design with Indian materials.[1]
The Madras High Court has stayed demolition of the building following a petition from heritage lovers.
History
[edit]The name Kardyl was also used for one of W. E. Smith & Co.'s proprietary products, Kardyl Prickly Heat Powder, which was among the firm's well-known pharmaceutical preparations.[2] Although the building was inaugurated as the Kardyl Building in 1897, surviving accounts do not explicitly establish whether it was named after the product.
The building with stained glass panels, domes, spires, arches, verandahs and 100-ft minarets was built in 1897. Once a lively commercial centre, it started deteriorating due to poor maintenance. The ownership changed several hands before it came under the possession of the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) in 1956. In 1998, tenants were asked to vacate the premises due to the weakness of the structure, and LIC planned to demolish the building in 2006.[3] The Madras High Court stayed it after the Indian National Trust for Architectural and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) filed a public interest litigation. INTACH received an interim order to preserve the building. LIC appealed to the Supreme Court which referred the matter back to the Madras High Court. The High Court issued a comprehensive order in 2009, asking the state government to submit a report on the building and also form a conservation committee to handle protection of other heritage structures. The heritage committee said in its report to the High Court that the building should be preserved, reiterating its heritage value. Meanwhile, LIC filed a petition with the Supreme Court in 2010, citing a technical report to argue that the building is structurally unsound and that it should be allowed to redevelop the property so it will resemble the old building in design. It also stated that the building has not been listed as a heritage structure anywhere and proposed an eight-storeyed complex in its place. The government made an announcement in October 2010 about finalising a heritage bill.[4]
The Madras High Court in a landmark judgement in 2010 included the building in a set of 400-plus heritage structures that could not be demolished. The grade 'A' certification was also confirmed.[5]
Restoration
[edit]In May 2025, the LIC awarded the conservation and restoration contract to Savani Heritage Conservation Private Limited, a Mumbai-based specialist heritage-restoration contractor, for ₹15.91 crore.[6] The works include lime-based masonry repairs, strengthening and grouting of the existing brick walls, restoration of timber and stone elements, reconstruction of Madras terrace and Mangalore-tiled roofs, and associated plumbing and electrical works.[7]
The restoration includes lime-based masonry repairs, strengthening and grouting of brick walls, conservation of timber and stonework, repair of decorative ceilings, reconstruction of Madras terrace and Mangalore-tiled roofs, façade restoration, and associated plumbing and electrical works. [8]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Chidambaram's bid to save Chennai's heritage". NDTV Travels Beta. Indo-Asian News Service. 25 August 2008. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
- ↑ Sumathi, J. (2023). "Kardyl Building: An Indo-Saracenic Architectural Marvel in Colonial Madras". Journal of Indian History and Culture (32): 399–409.
- ↑ Sridhar, Asha (29 August 2012). "Will Bharat Insurance Building survive the coming monsoon?". The Hindu. Chennai. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
- ↑ Soman, Sandhya (19 April 2011). "Rain or shine, Bharat Insurance building weathers it all". The Times of India. Chennai. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "Will Union Finance Minister keep his promise?". Madras Musings. XXII (9). 16–31 August 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2012.[permanent dead link]
- ↑ "Work award notice – Conservation and restoration of Bharat Insurance Building". Life Insurance Corporation of India. 20 May 2025. Retrieved 16 September 2026.
- ↑ "Conservation and restoration of Bharat Insurance Building, Chennai". Life Insurance Corporation of India. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2026.
- ↑ Savani Heritage Conservation (27 August 2026). Conservation and Restoration of Bharat Insurance Building – Chennai (Video). Savani Heritage Conservation.
