Silchar: The construction of the new District Library auditorium in Silchar, with a proposed seating capacity of over 1,000, is progressing at a fast pace. While the project is expected to significantly enhance the town’s cultural infrastructure, local cultural activists and theatre groups have voiced concerns over the lack of a smaller venue in the design.

They argued that a hall accommodating 300–400 people is crucial for staging intimate cultural programmes and theatrical productions, which a massive auditorium cannot adequately serve.

Although the current plan includes a multiplex-style hall of similar capacity, activists emphasised that it is not designed as a proper performance auditorium.

Representatives of Silchar’s cultural fraternity, including Rupam organisation’s Nikhil Paul, raised the issue with Adil Khan, Secretary, Barak Valley Development Department, and Cachar Deputy Commissioner Mridul Kumar Yadav. They urged the authorities to incorporate a mid-sized auditorium into the ongoing project.

Speaking on Sunday, Nikhil Paul stressed that such a facility is an urgent necessity for Silchar’s cultural community. “Adil Khan assured us that since a large portion of the construction work is still pending, a smaller auditorium could be included if a formal proposal is submitted promptly. We will soon submit a memorandum to this effect,” he said.

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