The Hindu

• The project is estimated to cost Rs 17 crore
• MRPL has agreed to contribute Rs 2 crore to the project
• The basement will have 2 mini halls and here will be 2 audio-visual rooms, each with a seating capacity of 200
• Works worth Rs 10.79 crore will be taken up in the first phase 

Mangalore, May 19: A meeting convened by the rangamandira construction committee, which was chaired by B Nagaraj Shetty, Minister in-charge of Dakshina Kannada, here on Thursday resolved in principle to take up work on the first phase of the construction of a rangamandira at Kadri Hills here after two months.

Of the estimated Rs 17 crore for the project, the meeting agreed to take up works worth Rs 10.79 crore in the first phase. The meeting decided to complete work on the first phase in 18 months. The project is expected to be ready in two-and-half years.

The meeting has decided to request the Mangalore Refineries and Petrochemicals Ltd. (MRPL) to increase its share for the construction of the building. According to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the district administration and the MRPL, the latter had agreed to contribute Rs. 2 crore for the building. Shetty said the committee was requesting the MRPL to contribute Rs 5 crore to the project. A representative of the MRPL said a final decision regarding this would be taken by higher authorities of the MRPL.

Providing details on the project, Narasimharaju, executive engineer, Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat, said of the Rs 17 crore, Rs 10 crore was needed for civil works.

According to the design of the building prepared by the chief architect of the State Government, the basement would have two mini halls, each with a seating capacity of 300. In addition, there would be two audio-visual rooms, each with a seating capacity of 200. There would be a main hall in the ground floor with a seating capacity of 850. The building would be built on 10.45 square meters.

The Minister said the Government would transfer 3.7 acres of land to the district administration for construction of the building.

Shetty said the district administration had allocated Rs 1 crore for the building. According to the MoU, apart from the MRPL contributing Rs 2 crore, the Kannada Sahitya Parishat would contribute Rs 1 crore.

Deputy Commissioner H V Parshwanath said unless one third of the total estimate was ready, the Government would not give administrative sanction for the project.

The executive engineer said to get the estimation sanctioned and get the technical approval it would take two months.

Though the foundation stone for the building has been laid twice, the meeting decided to lay another foundation stone before taking up the works.

Later, speaking to presspersons, Shetty raising the remaining funds for the building would not be a problem. People's representatives would ensure that the project gets Rs 17 crore from different sources, he added.