A view of Plaza Cinema that will be demolished for the construction of an art theatre and a shopping mall. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Ranchi, Nov. 17: The 66-year-old history is about to change soon. One of the oldest structures of the Ranchi City, the Plaza Cinema Hall could soon vanish forever.

The hall may be one of the oldest structures in Ranchi, but for a long time now it has served little purpose other than screening some sleazy films.

A part of the Union Club and Library, which is celebrating its 141st year of establishment, the club officials are now contemplating to break the entire structure and construct a state-of-the-art theatre on the lines of INOX.

Value added to it will be a shopping mall, a sports complex, indoor auditorium and an impressive library.

The hall is spread over an area of 26 ?cottahs?. Moreover, another16 cottahs attached to it is lying barren and unattended for a long time now.

According to the club officials, no one is ready to take up the huge plot because it lies behind a cinema theatre. This has forced them to put an end to its history of 60 years.

Apart from that, the cinema hall has witnessed a degradation over the past few years with only ?C-Grade? movies been screened these days.

The club officials said the entire land would be used for the construction of new establishments.

A history that dates back to the times when the British army used the hall as a resting place during the World War II.

Barun Roy, the secretary of the Union Club and Library said: ?This is one of the few old buildings of the city as well of the state. It was built in 1939, during the World War II. The British Army used it as their resting place.?

?They kept their baggage and ammunitions here. After Independence, Hemen Ganguly, a very popular businessman and a man very close to culture took over this place and converted into a theatre. This hall has seen the screening of many popular Bengali plays as well. This place found many takers after that and it grew into a full-fledged cinema theatre. But with changing times, the concept of cinema halls too has changed,? he added.

Roy also said that at present the hall has been under rent to Navin Jaiswal, who has paying them a rent of Rs 22,000 per month.

This is obviously a pittance, considering the huge area behind the cinema they will have to sacrifice as well in the process.

So, to make it more cost efficient and also to give to the city a complete centre of entertainment, they have decided to pull down the structure.

?We want to transform it into a commercial hub. If everything goes according to plans, this place will be one of the most posh areas in the state capital,? said another official.

The club officials already have had discussions regarding this and both agree a change is needed.

?Yes, I have talked to them about the plans. It is a huge project and may take in sometime. But then the whole thing sounds impressive,? he said.