The Delhi Development Authority has decided to develop six sociocultural centres in Delhi and one in Dwarka.
These centres will be developed in the existing district centres of Dwarka (Sector 11), Rohini (District Centre II), Netaji Subhash Place, Shahadara, Pitampura, Mayur Vihar and near Sultan Garhi Tomb, Vasant Kunj.
The proposed centres will promote visual arts such as painting, sculpture and ceramics, and performing arts such as music, dance and theatre. These will also play a role in training people in the arts. Some may even impart training in the culinary arts.
As of now, the Mandi House complex is the only major sociocultural centre in Delhi. The proposed centres will be more on the lines of international facilities such as the Sydney Opera House and the John F Kennedy Center For the Performing Arts, in Washington, DC.
According to the DDA, these centres will be developed, maintained and operated on Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode by selected groups or corporate companies. The DDA will be the facilitator and operations will be managed by a group of eminent people who will ensure that the centres are maintained as per the principles agreed upon. The DDA will also permit co-naming of these centres.
To ensure that these centres are self-financing, 60 per cent of the total floor area will be utilised for commercial, retail, hospitality and other remunerative purposes as per the Master Plan provisions. Revenue generated will be used for operating facilities such as auditoriums, theatres, galleries, exhibition halls, recording studios and museums.
