The mission to save a slice of Indo-French history is finally gathering steam with the state tourism department and the French consulate general pledging renewed commitment towards Registry Building in Chandernagore, the first French courthouse in India built in 1875 which is currently in a dilapidated state.

A 12-month extension was signed on Thursday on the agreement drawn up in February 2019 on restoration and adaptive reuse of the building standing at the head of the Strand in Chandernagore in Hooghly district, around 47km from Calcutta.

The original MoU, set to lapse this year, was of 30 months. “We have to extend the project because of the delay caused by the pandemic,” said principal secretary, tourism, Nandini Chakraborty, who signed the extension of the agreement with French consul general Virginie Corteval.

Nandini Chakraborty and (right) Virginie Corteval at the MoU-signing ceremony on Thursday. Gautam Bose

The government, she said, wanted to turn the structure into a boutique hotel and cultural centre with a library.

While the funds — pegged at Rs 3 crore — are being provided by the state government, France is bringing technical expertise. A detailed project report (DPR) has been drawn up by Aishwarya Tipnis, a conservation architect engaged by the French government who is part of the French Technical Expert Team that will collaborate on the project.

The DPR has been submitted to the steering committee, comprising representatives of the tourism department, the district administration, the Chandernagore Municipal Corporation and the French government, and will now be vetted by the Calcutta Metropolitan Development Authority. The municipal corporation will be the implementing agency.

The Registry Building could become a catalyst for the revival of the town’s colonial legacy. “We plan to develop colonial heritage tourism around Chandernagore. There can be a light and sound show, guided walks along the Strand... A total of 99 Indo-French heritage structures have been identified (by the French) in Chandernagore. Subsequently, our project ought to envelop everything. Many of the buildings are in private hands. They need to be sensitised. I have seen in France how they train private owners about the heritage value of properties which are often opened up for home stays,” Chakraborty said.

Corteval, who had visited the town as a tourist 20 years ago, also pointed to the “huge tourism potential” of the former French colony. “Chandernagore is an important name in history that everyone in France has heard about,” she said, adding how invested she found residents to be in the town’s French identity.

The tourism department, officials said, had plans to put infrastructure in place to start day-long cruises from Calcutta in future. A floating restaurant, called Jalashree: The Rivière Habitat, was launched in Chandernagore this February.

The focus will now be on the Registry Building, which both signatories admitted was a difficult structure to repair. “We have been in discussion for several years. Finally we are entering the implementing stage of the partnership,” summed up Corteval, whose tenure ends this month.

The tourism department is looking at a timeline of 18 months for its completion.