Bhayandar : Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray performed the bhoomipujan of the twin-city’s first drama theater (auditorium) in Kashimira on Sunday afternoon, one of the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation’s (MBMC) most ambitious projects.
“I am fortunate to have performed the ground breaking ritual and I sincerely hope of getting an invitation soon for the inauguration ceremony of the auditorium,” said Thackeray who later proceeded to perform the naming ceremony of a municipal garden christened ‘Balasaheb Thackeray Garden’ in the Indralok area of Bhayandar (east) and the inauguration of the party’s office in Mira Road.
“It’s only the state of Maharashtra and West Bengal which have retained the rich heritage of drama culture. However, our state is still far behind as compared to our Bengal counterparts where theatres still stage plays and cultural shows almost 7-days a week,” said the Sena chief.
Also present on these occasions were state cultural affairs minister Vinod Tawde, Shiv Sena MPs Sanjay Raut and Rajan Vichare, guardian minister Eknath Shinde, legislators Pratap Sarnaik, Narendra Mehta, Muzaffar Hussain, Hitendra Thakur, mayor Geeta Jain, deputy mayor Pravin Patil, MBMC commissioner Achyut Hange, town planner Dilip Ghevare amongst others.
After extended rounds of delays, hurdles had recently been cleared for the construction of auditorium on an amenity reserved plot admeasuring 4,800 square meter adjacent to the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway, near Dahisar check post in Kashimira.
Having facilities matching to international standards, the main auditorium hall will have a capacity of accommodating 1,200 audiences powered with advanced lighting and sound systems and other technologies needed for theatre and cultural performances.
Apart from a parking bay, the auditorium will also house a specially designed mini-theatre having a seating capacity of 200 persons. The drama theatre is expected to become operational within 18 months.
Suresh Golani
