DDA to develop socio-cultural centres

Aiming to encourage social and cultural activities in the city, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has decided to develop as many as six Socio-Cultural Centres. These centres will be developed within existing District Centres of Dwarka Sector-11, Rohini, Netaji Subhash Place, CBD groung Shahdara, Mayur Vihar (2 acre, and one near Sultan Garhi Tomb in Vasant Kunj). The centres will be spread over 1.5 to 11.5 acre lands.

The DDA officials said that the proposed centres would be centres of excellence for promotion of various visual arts like painting, sculpture and ceramics and performing arts like music, dance, theatre, etc. Each centre will have a specialised role in promoting and training people in visual and performing arts. Some centres may also provide training in culinary arts.

Presently, the Mandi House complex is the only major socio-cultural centre in Delhi. The proposed socio-cultural centres to be developed by DDA would be on the lines of international facilities like Sydney Opera House and John F Kennedy Centre for Performing Arts, Washington DC. DDA is also studying the details of important socio-cultural centres in India like the National Centre for Performing Arts, Mumbai and Bharat Bhawan, Bhopal.

These centres would be developed, maintained and operated on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model by selected groups/corporates of repute. DDA would be the facilitator and the operations 

would be managed by a group of eminent persons who would ensure that the centres are operated and maintained as per the principles agreed to, so that these do not get converted to baraat ghars.