Oct. 5: Lage Raho Munnabhai may have done wonders to sensitise people towards Gandhian principles, but it took a “give and take” policy for the corporate sector to sit up and take notice of Gandhi Mandap, the museum of Gandhian arts and thoughts, which is now in a sorry state.

Corporate houses have agreed to fund the maintenance and development of Gandhi Mandap on certain conditions, including posting of advertisement rights.

An Assam government official said the mandap is currently in a bad shape and is in dire need of maintenance.

He said the Kamrup metro district administration, entrusted with the development of the mandap, is not in a position to effectively to discharge its duty because of fund constraints. As a result, the corporate sector has been involved in the development and upkeep of the mandap.

The Gandhi Mandap, a two-storey white monument atop Sarania Hill, was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1970.

“The metro district administration recently held a meeting with different corporate houses to find out as to how the latter could be involved in the restoration of the mandap. Most of the corporate houses have agreed to extend financial grant on certain conditions including advertisements,” an official in the administration said.

Refusing to divulge the names of the mobile phone companies the official said two mobile service providers have agreed to install streetlights in the entire 2.5km stretch of the PWD road that leads to the mandap.

“Visitors avoid going up to the mandap in the evening because they fear they may be robbed in the dark. Streetlights will solve the problem and allow the people an opportunity to visit the mandap after dark,” he said.

The administration has also decided to create a park on the Gandhi Mandap premises with the help of corporate funds. Some corporate houses will be roped in to run a cafeteria at the mandap.

“Location wise Gandhi Mandap has full potential to become an attractive tourist spot. The administration now wants to exploit the potentials and develop the mandap in public-private initiative. The tourism department will also be engaged in the project,” the official said.