Mahajati Sadan, University Institute Hall to come under CCTV vigilance

Kolkata: In a bid to ensure security in and around the two historically significant auditoriums in the city, the state government has taken steps to bring the entire premises of both Mahajati Sadan and University Institute Hall under round-the-clock coverage of surveillance cameras.

The state food minister Jyotipriya Mallick, who is the chairman of the management committees of both the auditoriums, said: "The step to set up surveillance cameras has been taken as a proactive precautionary measure. In case there is any untoward incident or anyone attempting to create any trouble, the perpetrators can be easily identified by going through video footages."

The work of installation of surveillance cameras will be taken up soon in both the auditoriums and inspection has also been carried out to chalk out a plan to install the CCTV cameras at Mahajati Sadan, the foundation stone of which was laid by Rabindranath Tagore.

Subhas Chandra Bose was present when the foundation stone was laid. He was then associated with Congress. But there was a problem over the construction of the auditorium, after Bose left Congress. Though the then Mayor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy had initially raised an objection, all the problems were solved and the structure was later inaugurated by Dr Roy.

There will be surveillance cameras both inside and outside the auditorium. Besides the interior of the auditorium, the corridor, library and the museum on India's freedom movement, will also be brought under the coverage of surveillance cameras.

Besides respective units at the auditoriums itself to monitor the CCTV footages, the same can be monitored from the nearest police stations as well. There will be arrangements so that footages of the CCTV cameras installed in Mahajati Sadan and University Institute Hall, can also be monitored from Jorasanko police station and Amherst Street police station, respectively. It has been done so that police can take immediate step in case there is any trouble.

Several programmes take place round-the-year in both University Institute Hall at College Street and Mahajati Sadan on Chittaranjan Avenue, which has a seating capacity of around 1,400.

The minister said that renovation work has already been carried out in both the auditoriums. The state Information and Cultural Affairs department had funded the project and PWD had carried out the necessary work.

Renovation of Mahajati Sadan and University Institute Hall was carried out at a cost of Rs 4.5 crore and Rs 6 crore respectively.