Rs 30 crore sanctioned for Dombivli's Savitribai Phule Natyagriha, total outlay now Rs 45 crore

The redevelopment of Dombivli's Savitribai Phule Natyagriha has finally received funding. The state government's urban development department has sanctioned Rs 30 crore for the remaining work. Rs 15 crore had been approved earlier for the project, and with the new sum the total provision comes to Rs 45 crore.

The department issued a government order on November 4. The decision was taken on the orders of Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde. The funds have been sanctioned under the scheme "special provision for development of basic amenities in municipal corporation areas". The state government will bear the entire 100 per cent of the project's cost, while responsibility for implementation has been given to the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation.

Kalyan Lok Sabha MP Dr Shrikant Eknath Shinde kept pursuing the matter. He had repeatedly asked the state government to provide the funds needed for the redevelopment of the theatre so that work would not stall for want of money. The Rs 30 crore sanction for the remaining work has followed his efforts.

The Savitribai Phule Natyagriha has played a major part in giving Dombivli its identity as a cultural town. For many years it hosted plays, music evenings, literary events and a variety of cultural programmes. It was a stage for everyone, from local artistes to well-known performers. The theatre had to be closed because the building became dilapidated, which caused considerable hardship to theatre groups, artistes and playgoers. There had been a continuing demand that the theatre be rebuilt in keeping with Dombivli's rich cultural tradition.

After redevelopment, the theatre will have several modern facilities, including a grand, modern stage for plays, better seating for audiences, modern lighting and attractive interiors, a separate drama theatre for small experimental productions, separate rehearsal rooms for artistes, a separate art gallery for exhibitions of painting and other arts, and development of the theatre's outer premises and interiors.

With these facilities, the Savitribai Phule Natyagriha will no longer be just an auditorium for plays but will emerge as an all-inclusive cultural centre for Dombivli. It is hoped that Dombivli's theatre groups, amateur artistes and organisations working in the cultural field will get a stage of their own again. The sanction of funds is expected to speed up the redevelopment work. People in Dombivli are now waiting for the remaining work to be completed and the theatre to actually reopen.