PWD completes 80 percent of Victory Memorial Blind School restoration in Poonamallee

The Public Works Department (PWD) has completed nearly 80 percent of the restoration work on the 133-year-old heritage building at the Victory Memorial Blind School in Poonamallee.

The ₹24.20 crore project, executed by the PWD’s Building Centre and Conservation Division, aims to revive the colonial-era structure, which had suffered extensive damage to its roofs and walls.

The 58,200-square-foot red-brick building was originally constructed between 1888 and 1893. It features corridors running along four sides on both the ground and first floors. To restore the structure, workers repaired the damaged Mangalore-tiled roof, Madras Terrace roof, and walls. Cracks in the walls were stitched using lime plaster, and the remaining roof sections on both floors were strengthened to ensure future durability.

During the restoration, classes for approximately 180 students—comprising 120 school students and 60 vocational and Industrial Training Institute (ITI) students—were temporarily shifted to another building on the school campus. The institution is currently under the State Commissionerate for Welfare of the Differently Abled.

The heritage building has a rich history. Originally occupied by the British military, it once served as a soldiers' rehabilitation centre. In 1931, the building was handed over to the Madras Association of Handicapped, which established the school for visually impaired students. The school was later upgraded to a high school and became a higher secondary school in 1978.

PWD officials noted that the restoration process presented several structural challenges. Many defects only became visible after the old plastering was removed. Sourcing thick wooden beams that matched the original specifications was difficult, as was recreating the building's original features due to limited archival documentation.

Workers are currently finishing the flooring, wooden joinery on the ground floor, and painting. The building's facade is also being enhanced to preserve its original appearance. The PWD aims to complete the restoration by the end of the year, with school sources noting that regular occupancy and active use will be essential to maintaining the building's heritage character.