BBN moots another indoor auditorium

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, March 29

Notwithstanding the presence of an indoor auditorium constructed as part of the Centrally-sponsored Baddi Trade Centre in the industrial area of Baddi, the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh Development Authority (BBNDA) has proposed another indoor auditorium in the area.

The proposed auditorium is supposed to house 700 persons and an area of at least 8 to 10 bighas will be required to set up the structure. The executive committee of the authority has already approved an amount of about Rs 5 crore for the project though the final amount as worked out by a consultant has been pegged at Rs 10 crore. The authority is also in the process of seeking approval for the remaining amount and work to identify land is also under way. It was learnt that a site at Sandholi village was inspected though no final decision has been taken in this regard.

With roads and the sewerage system in the industrial belt requiring immediate attention, the proposal to construct another indoor auditorium after incurring Rs 10 crore will fail to serve the public interest. At a time when the state is battling the worst financial crunch and loans worth crores are being taken to pay the salary, construction of an auditorium is not being considered a frugal move.

It is learnt that the state government is having reservations about the new indoor auditorium, especially as the Baddi Trade Centre having modern facilities, including an auditorium had failed to find any use ever since it was inaugurated in March last year. A sum of Rs 15 crore has been incurred on its construction. Chief Executive Officer, BBNDA, Rajiv Kumar said the matter was under consideration of the state government. The Baddi Trade Centre has various facilities like a club house, multi-purpose conference halls, gymnasium and a restaurant. Officials of the Industries Department are working out the nitty gritty of making it operational and a special-utility vehicle is being constituted for it.