Sambalpur, May 16: A British-era town hall, popularly known as Victoria Hall, is set for a revamp. The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach) will carry out the heritage building's renovation. The state tourism department will finance the project.

"The department has sanctioned Rs 1.44 crore for the renovation. An MoU will shortly be signed with Intach," said district collector Samarth Verma. Beautification will also be carried out in the area around the building. There is also a plan to build a museum, said the collector.

"The existing walls will be demolished and the building will be brought back to its original structure," said Intach Sambalpur chapter member Deepak Panda.

On February 4, 2015, The Telegraph had highlighted the dilapidated condition of the heritage building.

It was first named Victoria Hall after Queen Victoria. After Independence, it was renamed after noted freedom fighter of the region Veer Surendra Sai.

The foundation stone of the building was laid in 1902 and the building was inaugurated by the then chief commissioner of the central province J.P. Hewety in 1904.

The building was constructed with contribution from various former feudal lords and businessmen of the area.

"The zamindar of Phuljhar, which is now in Chhattisgarh, had given Rs 1,200. The zamindar of Barpaligave Rs 1,000. Many other zamindars had also donated," said Panda, who researches heritage buildings.

The hall has been a witness to several historic events. Sir Andrew Frazer, the then governor of Bengal, had held a meeting with the kings of the region in the building in 1908.

Various institutions, such as the zilla school, the office of the Sambalpur Development Authority and the women's college once operated from this building.