AGARTALA, May 4 (TIWN): Chief Minister Manik Sarkar would inaugurate the refurbished Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan here on May 9 next to mark the birth anniversary of poet Rabindranath Tagore.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has already allowed the state government to inaugurate the building which was pending after model code of conduct came into effect. 

On the same day, the NBCC authority would hand over the building to the state government’s Information and Cultural Affairs department.

“After toiling hard spanning more than three years, we have been able to build a modest building at the heart of the city, which is seen as hub of cultural activities”, said an official of NBCC.

The building has two separate auditoriums- one is having 1300 sitting capacity and another is having 400 sitting capacity. “ All the modern facilities like air-condition, fire fighting, sound system and sound proof system have been installed in the building”, said the official who was sitting just in front of the new building to supervise the last-minute works.

A statue of nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore would be installed in front of the newly built building before the formal inauguration.

The estimated cost of the building stands at Rs. 33 crore though it was less at the initial stage. “The estimated cost of the building has been increased due to induction of some special facilities in the building”, he said.

Executive Director of NBCC SD Sharma has already arrived here to remain present in the formal inauguration of the Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan.

According to sources, ICA Minister Bhanu Lal Saha has been supervising the inaugural function of the new building.