Kilachand
house, once owned by the Maharaja of Patiala, and the only palace left
untouched in city, is being acquired by a builder
The
last palace still left untouched in the city may have to share its
grounds with high-end residential flats in the near future.
Kilachand
House, earlier known as the Palace of the Maharaja of Patiala, will be
left standing in the shadow of luxury apartments if a builder manages to
acquire all of the property.
The palace at Nepean Sea Road has
already been partially sold, and the builder, Orbit Corporation Ltd,
claims that in a few months he will be acquiring the remaining share of
the property held by the Kilachand brothers and constructing residential
apartments on the grounds.
 |
Kilachand House at Nepean Sea Road.
|
Little-known palace
Historian
Sharda Dwivedi said the palace once owned by the maharaja of Patiala
was one of the most beautiful structures in the city, but about which
people knew very little.
"I have heard about some deal related
to the palace. Kilachand House is the only palace left untouched in the
city, and if this also goes for development then there will be no
palaces left to admire in their original regal splendour," Dwivedi said.
"The majestic structure appears to be from the first decade of the last century, but the public knows very little about it."
Dwivedi
added that the palace later came into the possession of the Kilachand
family and a few members of the family were still living there.
Pujit Aggarwal, MD and CEO of Orbit Corporation Ltd, said he hoped to start on his project in six months.
"Yes,
I have partially bought the palace and the rest of the deal will be
sealed in the coming months," Aggarwal said. "I am expecting work to
begin in six months."
Aggarwal added that he would be paying less
than Rs 500 crore for the property, which occupies nearly 90,000 sq ft,
including the grounds. The builder plans to construct a residential
tower with high-end flats.
Heritage site
The palace structure is a heritage site and cannot be demolished.
"We
will have small luxury apartments, about 2,000 sq ft. I know the palace
is a heritage structure and we will take all precaution no damage is
done to it," Aggarwal said.
One of the four Kilachand brothers
has sold his share in the palace to Orbit and Aggarwal claims another
brother has agreed to sell his. "In a few months the deal will be
sealed," he said.
But it is believed that two brothers are averse
to the deal, though this could not be confirmed as the family did not
talk to MiD DAY in spite of attempts to contact its members.
 |
Kilachand House, once known as the Palace of the Maharaja of Patiala, at Nepean Sea Road.
|
"Because
of FSI and redevelopment, we will end up with very beautiful palaces
and ugly apartment buildings behind them," Dwivedi said. "Greed has
overtaken us, and the last palace is going now.
What will be
left of the heritage of this city except the European gothic public
buildings? Our last real palace is on the verge of losing its identity."
Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala lived here
The
palace was formerly the city residence of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of
Patiala. Born on October 12, 1891, Bhupinder Singh ruled Patiala from
1900 till his death in 1938. He represented India at League of Nations
in 1925. He married 10 times, and had 88 children.
Number Game
90,000
The area in sq ft of the Kilachand House property, including the grounds
Rs 500 cr
The amount the builder is expected to pay the Kilachand brothers
Did you know?
Samudra
Mahal in Worli
was earlier Scindia Palace; Kolhapur Palace in Lalbaug
now has a petrol pump; Wankaner state residency... | | is now the American
Consulate; Sophia College was earlier owned by maharaja of Bhavnagar and
Holkars of Indore |
