Kolkata's Iconic New Market Clock Tower Faces New Setback
The historic four-face Gillett & Johnston Westminster clock, housed in the iconic New Market clock tower in Kolkata, has unfortunately stopped functioning once again. This comes just weeks after a privately funded restoration project successfully repaired and revived the timepiece, making it operational for the first time in over a decade.
Waterproofing Attempt Leads to Mechanical Failure
The clock ceased working on Tuesday when routine maintenance revealed that recent waterproofing efforts had inadvertently jammed the delicate mechanism. The problem was discovered by the individual responsible for winding the clock three times weekly, who found the timepiece had completely stopped.
Swapan Dutta and his son Satyajit, the skilled horologists who restored the clock last month, have been working diligently to repair the new damage. "The waterproofing tar felt sheets were wrapped around a connecting rod that controls the time displayed on all four dials," explained Satyajit Dutta. "This completely jammed its movement. As the mechanism tried to continue operating against this obstruction, various components became deformed and the entire alignment was disrupted."
Restoration Team Responds to Emergency
The father-son team, who have been maintaining the clock without charge since its restoration, expressed frustration that the waterproofing work was conducted without consulting them. "This problem could have been easily avoided if we had been involved in the planning," they noted. Their first action was to remove the problematic tar felt sheets that had caused the mechanical failure.
On Saturday, after extensive work to correct multiple misalignments and deformations, the Duttas managed to restart the clock. However, they continue to monitor its performance closely to ensure it can maintain accurate timekeeping. The repair process has been particularly challenging due to the clock's complex four-face Westminster mechanism and its historical significance.
Historic Significance and Restoration Background
The New Market tower clock is one of only four such Gillett & Johnston Westminster clocks in all of India. The other three are located at IIEST Shibpur, the Lower Parel railway workshop in Mumbai, and the Chennai Municipal Corporation. This particular timepiece had fallen into disrepair and stopped working more than ten years ago before the recent restoration.
Mudar Patherya, who coordinated the restoration through Kolkata Restorers—a citizen-led initiative—expressed hope that the vintage clock would return to reliable operation. "We expect the Kolkata Municipal Corporation to take responsibility for maintaining both the clock and the tower moving forward," said Patherya.
The comprehensive restoration project was funded by private firm Techno Electric & Engineering and involved architects Anjan and Saptarshi Mitra, who restored the tower structure itself. Tower restoration work occurred from July 24, 2025 to December 22, 2025, with clock repair following immediately afterward and completing just weeks ago.
Community Impact and Future Prospects
When the clock was recently restored to full functionality, it included revival of its striking mechanism—bringing back both quarterly chimes and hourly dongs that had been silent for years. Local shopkeepers and residents had celebrated the return of these familiar sounds, which evoked nostalgic memories of the area's history.
The Duttas' restoration work went beyond simple timekeeping, returning the clock to its full auditory glory. Now, as they work to correct the waterproofing-related damage, the community watches with hope that this historic timepiece will continue to mark time and chime for generations to come.
Kolkata Restorers invested approximately Rs 50 lakh in the tower and clock restoration, demonstrating significant commitment to preserving the city's architectural heritage. The current repair efforts represent an unexpected additional challenge in maintaining this important historical artifact.
