Cultural centre under Raja Garden flyover

This is one Delhi government project which has not moved beyond papers for almost six years.

This is one Delhi government project which has not moved beyond papers for almost six years.

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The government suddenly seems to have realised that the infrastructure it had developed a few years ago to promote cultural activities in western part of the Capital is lying neglected. The Delhi cabinet on Monday once again decided to make “optimum utilisation of this centre to encourage cultural activities and provide a multi-utility centre in west Delhi”.

Constructed under 1.2-km long Raja Garden flyover in 2005, the ‘neighbourhood cultural centre’ would be operated and managed by Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC).

Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit said the centre would soon become a place for small gatherings and cultural

activities. Interestingly, the

foundation stone for neighbourhood cultural centre was laid by Dikshit herself way back in 2003.

According to the concept plan prepared that time, the centre was supposed to come up in about 13,000 square metre area for a cost of R2.9 crore. The centre was proposed to have a cyber cafe, a library, a tourist information centre, a bookshop, an amphitheatre, a gymnasium, a florist shop, art walk, coffee point, a food court, booths for traffic and local police.

Though the infrastructure was built and the cultural centre was supposed to be “fully operational” by September 2005, it never became a reality.

Six years hence, the Delhi cabinet has authorised the Public Works Department to sign a contract with the DTTDC and let the tourism organisation develop it for the purposes it was constructed.

With a number of malls constructed in Rajouri Garden — just next to the flyover — Delhi government officials believe the cultural centre would become an instant hit with residents living in that part of the city.