Town Hall reopens after a year-long closure

After a year-long closure, the Town Hall renovated at a cost of Rs 4.58 crore in Mangaluru was inaugurated on Saturday. 

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Urban Development Vinay Kumar Sorake said that 3,500 vacancies in city corporations will be filled through KPSC recruitment. The vacant ‘D’ group employees will be recruited by the DC’s of respective districts.

“Mangaluru City Corporation is making an effort to ensure that it is included in the list of 20 cities for smart city project in the country. The work on new vented dam is in progress at Thumbay which aims at supplying 24X7 water to Mangaluru. The second phase of UGD works will be taken up at a cost of Rs 280 crore and under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) Scheme, 27 towns of Karnataka will get Rs 200 crore.

The City Corporation should mobilise the resources through effective tax collection,” he added. Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim said that the Town Hall is a centre of cultural and social activities in European countries.

“The MCC should prepare a plan of action for its maintenance. The increase in the expenditure incurring in renovating the Town Hall should not be passed on to the public by increasing the rent. It should remain as a centre for cultural activities,” he added.

District In-charge Minister Ramanath Rai said that the work on Town Hall was delayed owing to various reasons.

Member of Legislative Council, Ivan D’Souza said, all the Town Halls in the State should have uniform rent and suggested that the Town Hall in Mangaluru use solar energy for the daily use.

The Town Hall in Mangaluru was inaugurated on December 29, 1964 by the then Governor General Nagesh.

The Mayor said that the granite flooring to the padasale (veranda) of Town hall, the work on green room, VIP room, water proof work and interior repairs was taken up at a cost of Rs 99.75 lakh and accoustic panelling, stage, sound and light system, false ceiling at a cost of Rs 98 lakh. However the seating capacity of the hall has been reduced by 108 seats. The hall which earlier had 1,008 seats has 900 seats, after the renovation.

However, plastic chairs can be accommodated in the balcony. The hall has new modern type push back seats which consume more space. Mayor Jacintha Vijay Alfred presided over the inaugural programme.