DDA to develop Socio Cultural Centres in Delhi

Delhi Development Authority has decided to develop six Socio Cultural Centres in Delhi.  These Socio Cultural Centres will be developed within existing District Centres of Sector-11, Dwarka, (10.00 acres), Rohini District Centre-II (11.25 acres), Netaji Subhash Place, Pitampura (1.50 acres), CBD Shahdara (1.50 acres), District Centre Mayur Vihar (2.00 acres), and one near Sultan Garhi Tomb, Vasant Kunj (11.25 acres).

The proposed centres would be centres of excellence for promotion of various visual arts like painting, sculpture and ceramics and performing arts like music, dance, theatre, etc. Each centre will have a specialized role in promoting and training people in visual and performing arts.  Some centres may also provide training in culinary arts.

Presently, Mandi House complex is the only major socio cultural centre in Delhi.  The proposed socio cultural centres to be developed by DDA would be on the lines of international facilities like Sydney Opera House and John F. Keneddy Centre for Performing Arts, Washington D. C. DDA is  also studying the details of important socio cultural centres in India like the National Centre for Performing Arts, Mumbai and Bharat Bhawan, Bhopal.

These centres  would be developed, maintained and operated on Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode by selected groups/corporates of repute.  DDA would be the facilitator and the operations would be managed by a group of eminent persons who would ensure that the centres are operated and maintained as per the principles agreed to, so that these do not get converted to baraat ghars.   DDA would also permit co-naming of these centres along with the name selected by the developer.

 To ensure that the centres are self-financing, 60% of the total floor area can be utilized for commercial, retail, hotels and other remunerative uses as per the Master Plan provisions.  Revenue received from this would be utilized for operating facilities like state of the art auditoria, theatres, galleries, exhibition halls, recording studios, museums, etc., which would be developed on the remaining 40% of the total floor area.

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DDA will also hold discussions with similar institutions already functioning in the city, like National School of Drama, Sangeet Natak Academy, Sahitya Kala Academy and other centres for performing arts for their inputs.