Kanpur’s KEM Hall which is more than a century old, is finally in loop for a much-needed facelift, given that the proposal for its renovation is accepted by the civic administration of the city. The Divisional Commissioner paid the KEM hall a visit on Wednesday and looked into the matters for its renovation. After a thorough round of inspection, he suggested a facelift of the building and proposed a heritage light and sound show here.
KDA & Kanpur Municipal Corporation to handle the venture
According to the officials, the construction of the historic building had commenced in 1910 and was completed in 1918. Built by the British, KEM Hall is also known as the Kanpur Sangrahalaya and is located at the Phoolbagh Maidan. After independence, this building was renamed as Gandhi Bhawan and used for cultural and public functions.
They also added that a public library named as Parshad Pustakalaya, is established here in the name of Shyam Lal Gupta, the poet who penned Jhanda Ooncha Rahe Hamara. It is currently being run and maintained by the Kanpur Development Authority. KEM Hall stores incredible artefacts and exhibits, relating to Kanpur and the nation as a whole. It is also considered as a place with loads of interesting anecdotes and tales of the bygone era and KEM has become the best source of information, about Kanpur.
KDA and Kanpur Municipal Corporation would jointly be handling the reformation project and the report will be submitted to the DC within the next 15 days. The DC also directed the KDA vice chairman to inspect the library and to submit a plan for its best preservation.
