The wait for Kochi to have a top quality venue to stage cultural art events has ended. The new open air auditorium at the Durbar Hall Grounds will be thrown open to public this month.
The stage with a length of 60ft and 70ft width has already been completed and the district administration is planning to inaugurate the new facility by February 22 with a musical concert by K J Yesudas.
Along with the new open air theatre, the ground surrounding the Durbar Hall has also been renovated. “The ground here was getting seriously affected by water-logging. Hence, we have now elevated the ground up to 40 cm. Filtration pipes were laid under the ground at every 5 metre gap. Above the pipes, metal was laid and on the new elevated ground the new grass carpet was laid,” said an official.
The drainage system of the ground is also restructured.
“Drains were set up around the ground, surrounding wall rebuilt and fencing works completed,” the official said. The total cost for the construction of the auditorium and restructuring the ground was estimated at `1.40 crore.
A walkway with a width of two metres will be constructed near the auditorium.Once inaugurated, the district administration will organise various art and cultural events and international film festivals every year. Last year, when the first edition of the film festival was organised, the district administration found it difficult to conduct free screenings for the public owing to the lack of a proper venue. Once the new auditorium is opened, this issue will be sorted out, said the official.
During Onam season, cultural festivals are held at Marine Drive. But this year the district administration and District Tourism Promotional Council (DTPC) can consider making Durbar Hall a major venue for festival programmes, he said.