Capital Cultural Hall expected to be completed ahead of schedule

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Nov. 11 (EMN): The Capital Cultural Hall, a project under the Kohima Smart City, is expected to be completed in November, a month ahead of the projected schedule.

The four-storey complex, aimed at providing a state-of-the-art hall with a seating capacity of 2000 for cultural and entertainment programmes, was targeted to be completed by the end of this year (December).

Chief Executive Officer of Kohima Smart City Development Ltd. (KSCDL) K Theunuo told Eastern Mirror that he was hopeful the project costing more than INR 36 crore will be completed this month.

Located above the NSF Martyr’s Park in Kohima, the Capital Cultural Hall envisages promoting indigenous art and culture and a possible revenue generation for municipality, it was informed.

Meanwhile, the advisor to the chief minister, Abu Metha, on Wednesday visited the ongoing construction site and updated the status on Twitter.

‘Visited the Capital Cultural Hall which is reaching completion. It will become an excellent facility that will cater to a wide range of possibilities and allow our youth to showcase their talents in a world class environment. A long-awaited need for the state capital,’ Metha wrote.

INR 220 crore for smart city projects

Regarding Kohima Smart City projects (inclusive of the cultural hall), the CEO informed that the Union Ministry has given INR 200 crore and INR 20 crore by the state government for the projects.

“Funds have (been) mixed up for the ongoing projects. We utilised them for cultural hall and the other ongoing projects. But major fund had gone for Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC),” Theunuo informed.

He added that the ICCC has been completed but is yet to be inaugurated as there is no exit to the centre. So, they are trying to construct an exit.

Giving further updates on the ongoing projects, he said that KSCDL is constructing a “friendly” pavement (inclusive of drainage) for a stretch of 1.5 km in the capital’s main town.

The footpath is meant for persons with disabilities. As far as possible, ‘we are trying to keep the path straight to make it convenient and accessible for them. By December end, it would be completed’, he informed.

The two multilevel car parking facility at Old NST Station and old Medical directorate being taken up under the Kohima Smart City will be completed by next March, CEO added.

The officer further informed that the main projects are city centre and redevelopment of Khouchiezie (Kohima local ground). But the two projects are still under process for sanction since the government has no fund. There are many projects in the pipeline under smart city mission, he added.