The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Plan for bigger, better Kalaivanar Arangam

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Tuesday, Jul 22, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Plan for bigger, better Kalaivanar Arangam

R.K. Radhakrishnan

It will come up in Omandur Government Estate by 2010

The seating will be spread across two floors
It will be “more or less” in the same area as present structure stands

This is the model of the new Kalaivanar Arangam to be built in the Government Estate in Chennai.

CHENNAI: The government will build a larger and contemporary Kalaivanar Arangam in the Omandur Government Estate by 2010.

“Initially three structures in the government estate were to be left alone: the new MLA hostel, Kalaivanar Arangam and Rajaji Hall. But architecturally, the present Kalaivanar Arangam will not go with the modern secretariat and the Assembly complex being built. Hence, it was decided to build a better, more spacious Arangam with more facilities,” an official explained.

The Arangam now has a seating capacity of 1,058. It does not have adequate parking. Often, vehicles line up along roads in the government estate. The new hall will have adequate multi-tier parking lots adjoining it. The seating in the new hall will be spread across two floors. “The plan is to accommodate at least 2,500 persons on the ground floor and the first floor,” the official said. The new complex will be “more or less” in the same area as the present structure stands. Asked about the need for a new hall, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said he held in high esteem both Kalaivanar (NSK) and Rajaji. The Rajaji Hall was being touched up keeping in view its aesthetic heritage. It was as a tribute to N.S. Krishnan that he wanted to build a contemporary auditorium that was as good as any in the country, he said.

Mr. Karunanidhi had also presided over a dozen meetings on the Assembly Hall and the secretariat complex, and the issue of facilities to be added in the new Kalaivanar Arangam figured at each meeting, according to officials who were part of the reviews.

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