CHENNAI: A day after drawing steady crowds on reopening after 16 years, the Victoria Public Hall was once again closed to the public from Saturday onwards, with officials stating that the opening would be rescheduled soon.

Officials of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) said the brief opening was part of a “dry run” to assess public response and crowd movement inside the restored heritage structure.

“We initially planned the dry run for 3-4 days, but one day felt sufficient,” an official from the GCC’s Special Projects department said. “Feedback from the first day will be used to fine-tune arrangements inside the hall. Some upgrading work still needs to be done. We need to gauge how crowds move through space. We’re planning additional amenities, including a sound room, to improve the visitor experience. The hall is expected to reopen next week and be made available for public access on a daily basis.”

Chief Minister MK Stalin inaugurated the restored hall on Tuesday, after which it was opened for public viewing from Friday. Entry was free, with visitors required to book slots through the GCC’s website. The booking portal currently shows no available options.

Despite the short window, the first day saw a strong public response. Visitors across age groups streamed into the building, many encountering the interior of the historic hall for the first time. You can cycle to trace the sporting history of the Madras Presidency, and children can play on a large chess board laid out on the floor. The restored spaces offered a mix of heritage displays and interactive elements, drawing families, students and history enthusiasts.

“It was my dream to visit this hall. It carries a lot of weight and history. Politics, art, culture, history...everything that Chennai bears now started here,” said Raghuraman, a 64-year-old city resident.

The experience was equally engaging for Amandeep Singh and Pallavi Salunke from Pune with their two children, who said the building stood out both inside and out. “It’s a beautiful structure from the outside, and inside it tells so many stories. Everything is new for us and it’s exciting,” Amandeep said.

A seven-year-old darted excitedly through a model tram installation, while Vivek (28), who had travelled from Villupuram to Chennai for unrelated work, said he walked in out of curiosity. Groups of college students from Kerala, delayed due to a late-night train to Delhi, spent hours inside the hall, particularly at sections documenting the city’s sporting and cultural past.

One of the most talked-about sections was the musical exhibition, which brings together more than 150 rare musical instruments spanning classical, folk, tribal and indigenous traditions. Many instruments on display are no longer in common use, with some surviving only through historical records and oral memory, drawing sustained attention from visitors.

The restored building is intended to function as a public cultural space, housing exhibitions, performances, lectures and civic events, while also serving as a museum documenting the hall’s layered history. But, for now, visitors will have to wait once again after a busy first day show.