Work on Sanskrutika Bhawan to begin soon in Berhampur

The work on Biju Patnaik Sanskrutika Bhawan at Hillpatna in Berhampur city is likely to start this month. The tender for the proposed three-storey auditorium with a seating capacity of 600 has been finalized. During a review meeting, Ganjam collector Krishan Kumar directed engineers of the R&B division to immediately issue the work order. "The construction work will begin in a week," he said. They have been asked to complete the project by next year. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik had laid the foundation stone of the Rs 1-crore project in 2008, just before the assembly elections in 2009.

The state-owned Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) was entrusted with the task of constructing the auditorium over one acre at Hillpatna. But it did not take it up, citing technical problem. Meanwhile, the project cost escalated to Rs 4.96 crore. The comptroller and auditor general (CAG) of India also criticized the culture department for the delay as funds for the auditorium were sanction in 2008 itself. According to sources, Sanskrutiak Bhawan would be one of the biggest auditoriums in southern Odisha. The auditorium would not only host dramas and cultural programmes but also house a museum and a tourist office on its premises. Source: The ToI