Feb. 9: After missing two deadlines, a new-look Rabindra Bhawan will be finally ready for reopening next month.

The Assam public works department (PWD), which is carrying out the renovation, is working overtime and now hopes to reopen the most popular public auditorium in the city by the end of next month.

This is the third deadline set by the department since it undertook the renovation last year. The renovation was supposed to be completed in July last year, but the deadline was revised to January this year and again to March 31. The renovation is being carried out at an estimated cost of Rs 1.6 crore provided by the state culture department.

PWD sources said the renovation was delayed by several months because of the lack of co-ordination between the executing department and the Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB).

The renovation includes setting up of a central air-conditioning system, making the auditorium sound proof, replacement of the wires and electrical fittings and the fixed chairs, repairing the building, installing modern doors and ventilators and a diesel generator set.

The construction of the building was completed with Rs 50 lakh released in the first phase, while Rs 56 lakh was released for the second phase. A proposal for sanction of Rs 21 lakh was submitted to the state government for the replacement of the fixed chairs.

The auditorium has a total seating capacity of 600. To oversee the progress of the renovation, the state government has formed a monitoring committee with top officials of the PWD and the culture department.

?As soon as the amount is sanctioned, we will replace the fixed chairs with more comfortable and modern ones made by Godrej. If the state government does not sanction the whole amount, we will replace at least 200 chairs in the front rows for the VIP guests,? a PWD source said.

PWD chief engineer (buildings) Harish Dutta said, ?We are almost through. Only the acoustic works and some related electrical jobs need to be completed. Tenders for these projects have already been floated and the work is expected to begin from the middle of this month. We are looking forward to a March reopening,? Dutta said.

Dutta said about Rs 26 lakh would be spent on the acoustics. The PWD has decided to use a German technology, Lloyd Insulation, to make the auditorium soundproof.

The works include steel cushioning of the wall, which will absorb sound to make the auditorium free of echo.

All seats will be built with special steel sheets for better absorption of sound, which will also increase their durability and save maintenance cost.

The power system was improved as the earlier one is no longer able to take increased load. The wood fittings of the stage of Rabindra Bhawan, which were damaged by seepage of water, are being replaced by waterproof materials. The damaged CI sheets have been replaced and a false ceiling has been fixed to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the auditorium.

After the completion of the acoustic work, the auditorium will be given a fresh coat of weather paint so that it does not require painting and the glaze remains for at least five years. However, the colour will be chosen after consultation with the culture department.

Though the existing sound and light system of the auditorium will not be replaced under the project, the culture department will move Dispur for a more sophisticated sound and light system in the next fiscal.

The closing down of the auditorium for renovation has created problems for the social and cultural groups, which look for affordable and equipped auditoriums to hold their programmes. With the District Library not meeting their requirements, the groups are being forced to hire Pragjyoti, the cultural complex at Machkhowa, and Vivekananda Kendra.