KMC set to renovate Sukanta Mancha

Kolkata: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) will soon take up renovation of Sukanta Mancha in Phoolbagan under Borough III. The Town Planning and Town Development (TP & TD) wing of the Civic body will execute the work.

"The facilities of a modern hall for holding cultural functions will be integrated in the Sukanta Mancha during the renovation. It will have air conditioning facilities, stage light, hall light and its own generator set up to overcome any sort of power disruption," a senior KMC official said.

At present, generator needs to be hired before any event at the venue.

The tin shed of the hall has been badly damaged and water has seeped through it badly, affecting the false ceiling. A portion of the false ceiling had caved in and fell upon the chairs inside the hall a few months ago. The old tin shed will be removed completely and a new shed will be installed. A permanent structure is not feasible in the hall.

The plastering on the walls and some columns that support the hall's structure has also been damaged. "We will also do retrofitting of the damaged columns," the official added.

The proposal for revamping the hall was placed by the chairman of Borough III Anindya Kishore Routh at the administrative meeting in the borough chaired by Mayor Firhad Hakim.

"Sukanta Mancha is the only hall in the entire borough for holding any sort of programmes and it was in urgent need of renovation," Routh said. He had himself prepared the DPR worth Rs 4.5 crore and had submitted it to the KMC.

The hall that was set up in 1996, has hardly witnessed any major renovation work till date. The civic body has also taken recommendations of fire safety and will install all equipment related to safety and security while renovating the hall.

The plastic chairs inside the auditorium will also be replaced by modern day comfortable chairs.

"The Mayor has already approved the renovation proposal. It has been sent to the concerned department for release of funds. We will float tender as soon as the funds are released," an official of the TP & TD department said.

Apart from local meetings and cultural programmes, Natya Utsav organised by the state government is also held every year at Sukanta Mancha.