Kala Kunj: Delhi Archives set to get a new cultural centre

To start construction of the building, Sisodia, who is also the art and culture minister, on Tuesday laid the foundation stone of Kala Kunj - Delhi Archives Annexe & Cultural Hub at department of Delhi archives.

The Delhi government is going to construct a cultural centre, named Kala Kunj, to create a dedicated infrastructure for better conservation of the city’s archives, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said on Thursday.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia laid the foundation stone of 'Kala Kunj', Delhi Archives Annexe & Cultural Hub at the Department of Delhi Archives, in New Delhi. (ANI)

To start construction of the building, Sisodia, who is also the art and culture minister, on Tuesday laid the foundation stone of Kala Kunj - Delhi Archives Annexe & Cultural Hub at department of Delhi archives. “Kala Kunj, the proposed building, will have a state-of-the-art auditorium with a capacity of 500 and excellent audio-visual facilities. It will also host art exhibitions, archives, libraries, a café, and offer a mix of cultural activities. It will be an important and dedicated centre for cultural and intellectual activities,” he said.

Senior government officials said this building will be in addition to the existing office building of the Delhi archives department in Qutub Institutional Area. The Kala Kunj building is expected to be ready in 24 months and cost Rs 50 crore.

The Delhi archives department was established in 1972, but it has been functioning in its current office since 1986. An additional annexation was under consideration since 2013 due to the continued expansion of records. It was finally on Thursday that the foundation stone was laid after the Delhi government gave its administrative approval this year.

“One of the main objectives of the construction of this annexe is to also provide South Delhi a cultural centre where people can come and connect with art, culture, heritage and history. The new building will ensure a dedicated space in conserving this country’s rich archival heritage, and history so the future generations can stay connected to their culture. The annexation of Delhi Archives will be very useful in the direction of cherishing and continuously advancing the cultural heritage of the country,” Sisodia said.