The famous United Kingdom icon Big Ben will be silent for months, even years, as a major repair and renovation is set to be done. The project will cost the government about £40 million ($61.7 million).

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The oldest and second largest clock tower in the world has been in need of major overhaul and has not been restored for over 30 years. It was observed currently that the time on the clock is 6 seconds late and the infrastructure - such as the clock hands - may fall any time.

The impending repair was scheduled originally with the restoration of the whole Palace of Westminster at the end of this decade. But Big Ben's repairs could not be prolonged.

The Big Ben was renamed the Elizabeth Tower in lieu of the of Queen Elizabeth's Jubilee Anniversary to the Crown on May 31, 2009. The tower was established and opened in 1859 as a four-faced clock tower included in the design by Charles Barry for the new Palace of Westminster after it was rebuilt, but the tower itself was designed by Agustus Pugin. Since then, the clock has been one of United Kingdom's most iconic landmark. The Big Ben has been silenced many times due to technical issues and breakdowns. The longest time it has been silent was for two years during World War I.

Last August, it has been discovered that the clock was 7 seconds fast. The coins that was used to help the pendulum was removed to stabilize and slow it down, but now it has been realized that the clock urgently needed major repairs other than just fixing the seconds hand. The clock symbolizes the strength of the UK Parliament and the negligence to it would reflect the government.

Tagsbig ben, London, United Kingdom