The Alipore Central Correctional Home is a national historic landmark located in the heart of Kolkata. This 116 year old building, along with the Presidency Jail, is on the Grade I list of heritage sites of Kolkata. Constructed in 1906, and spread over 15.2 acres, this colonial era institution abuts Tolly's Nullah and can be identified easily with its characteristic brick-red walls. Within the premises one can spot the Alipore Jail Press Building, the central watchtower, over a dozen buildings which served as prison cells and wards, and the Alipore Jail Hospital building. Notable freedom fighters who were incarcerated here include Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose, Chittaranjan Das, Dinesh Gupta, Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy to name a few. It served as a correctional home till 2019 when the inmates were shifted to Baruipur, on the outskirts of Kolkata. From being a silent witness to the brutalities inflicted on the freedom fighters of the country, the Alipore Central Correctional Home is now transformed as a memorial and museum to honour the sacrifice of those who fought for the independence of India.
The existing Alipore jail campus adopted a world-class Independence museum, which would act as a stimulant to increase the footfall in the Alipore Green city.
The Independence Museum will display India's freedom struggle during the British period. The museum will also have on display paintings, photographs, maps of India during the various periods of History, installations, and statues of the freedom fighters. Other than this will also be the home to letters and other documents and artifacts related to the freedom struggle The museum along will also have various public facilities regarding food and entertainment like food kiosks, ice-cream parlour & cafeteria etc.
1. Entry Gate Office Building: Building consist of ground floor and 1st floor. Ground floor area of the building is decorated for the information center, ticketing room, office room and room for the Curator/manager. While 1st floor of the building has been redeveloped as the replica of coffee house.
2. Gallows area: This place has been decorated with the names of great freedom fighters, who were hanged in the Alipore Central Correctional Home.
3. Hospital Building: This building has been chosen by the Architect as the main exhibition building. This building have souvenir room, INA theme cafe', exhibits of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in the ground floor and exhibits related to Rishi Aurobindo, Dinesh Gupta, Women Martyrs of Bengal and the history of 18th & 19th Century starting from Battle of Plassey in Bengal (1757) upto the freedom movement of 1947 in the 1st floor of the building.
4. Light & Sound Show: A light and sound show depicting the lives and struggle of various us freedom fighters has been planned in the ground adjacent to the hospital building.
