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Steps taken to promote theatre in the State

Correspondent

An exclusive theatre complex to be constructed soon

BHUBANESWAR: Two cultural complexes, including an exclusive theatre complex will be built in the State capital soon.

Laying the foundation stone for an exclusive complex for theatre activities on the State-owned Odissi Research Centre here on Saturday, Culture Minister S.N. Patro announced that the complex would cost Rs.4 crore and would be named as Utkal Rangamanch. It would be modelled after the famous Prithvi Theatre of Mumbai and could accommodate about 350 people for any show. The auditorium apart, it would have provision for a library and guest house, it was learnt.

“The three auditoriums in the city - Rabindra Mandap, Jayadev Bhawan and Bhanja Kala Mandap - almost remain reserved throughout the year for various events organised by the government and non-government organisations, leaving little scope for the theatre fraternity of the State to host their activities for a long period. This theatre complex with the state-of-the-art facility would address their long felt need,” Mr. Patro pointed out and promised that it would be ready within a year.

Kalamandal complex

The State Government has further decided to come up with a huge auditorium on its proposed Kalamandal Complex in Chandrasekharpur that would cost Rs.10 crore; the Minister revealed and added that it would accommodate about 1,200 spectators.

The city is expanding its territory fast towards Nandankanan route with so many important institutions coming up in the region. A cultural complex was felt necessary for this area that is far from the heart of the city where the two major auditoria are located, he observed.

An art gallery for the Orissa artists costing about Rs.2 crore is also coming up on the Orissa State Museum complex, it was learnt.

The Odissi Research Centre would also have a 48-bedded hostel soon costing about Rs.1 crore, Mr. Patro announced.

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