View of the Hall of Nations from the Halls of Industries, visible in profile on both sides of the image
View of the Hall of Nations from the Halls of Industries, visible in profile on both sides of the image © Mahendra Raj Archive
April 8, 2015
Shri Narendra Modi
Hon’ble Prime Minister
South Block
New Delhi

Sub: Hall of Nations & Nehru Pavilion, Pragati Maidan

Dear Prime Minister,

We understand that India Trade Promotion Organisation, under the Ministry of Commerce, wishes to redesign the Pragati Maidan Complex by demolishing the structure of Hall of Nations, Hall of Industries and Nehru Pavilion while building a new convention centre.

These iconic buildings were designed to commemorate and celebrate the 25th year of India’s Independence and were a central piece of a landscaped are of 125 acres of prime land.

The Hall of Nations constitutes the largest span concrete space frame structure in the world and is widely published in architectural and structural journals all over the globe. These buildings were exhibited in several exhibitions including the Pompidou Museum, Paris and National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi. It was also one of the two buildings selected from India for an international exhibition of world’s most important buildings of 20th century. These buildings have been internationally published and acknowledged as a major works (sic!) of architecture.

Surely a way can be found to redesign the Pragati Maidan’s 125 acres to accommodate a new convention centre without demolishing Hall of Nations and the Nehru Pavilion which as a grass mound takes inspiration from ancient Bhdhist’s monuments (sic!). The Hall of Nations can be refurbished and converted into a museum for architecture design and infrastructure (sic!).

Knowing your interest in preserving architectural heritage buildings, we, as the architect and structural engineer of these buildings, urge your intervention to stop the move to demolish these iconic building which everybody relates to the cityscape of Delhi.

With regards,
Yours Sincerely,
[signed]
Raj Rewal
[signed]
Mahendra Raj
Structural Engineer