The Chennai Corporation has invited Expression of Interest from qualified consultants to develop a concept to set up a museum in Ripon Building, the civic body's headquarters.

The consultant has to base his concept bearing in mind over 300 years of the city's history and growth. It will also contain details of the development of the Corporation.

The firm has to provide details of the items that can be placed in the museum such as documents, maps, books, sketches, photographs and memorabilia and where they can be sourced from. The last date for submission of the proposal is July 2.

The Corporation has taken up renovation of the building that was constructed in 1913 by Loganatha Mudaliar at a cost of Rs.7.5 lakh.

Mayor M. Subramanian said about 20 per cent of the renovation had been completed. “Partitions, layers of plastering and white wash have been removed and fresh lime plastering done,” he said.

Officials said sewer and water lines from outside the building have to be moved before work on the façade and sides could be taken up.

Historian V. Sriram said Chennai was the first city formed by the British empire in India. In 1639, when Francis Day and Andrew Cogan came with Beri Thimappa and Nagabathan bought the grant from the Naik of Poonamallee, it was for doing business. It was mainly a trade port doing business in cloth.

“Many of India's great institutions started in Chennai, including the Indian Army and the modern banking system. The Madras Bank, which later on became a part of Imperial Bank of India and finally became the State Bank of India, was founded here,” he said.

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