Sonaram field littered with garbage. Picture by Eastern Projections

Sept 23: The Kamrup (metropolitan) district administration has started work on developing Sonaram field into an exhibition ground on a war footing to make up for the loss of revenue from the Judges Field closure.

While construction of the boundary wall around the field has already been started, other development schemes will be executed soon after Durga Puja. The entry to the Sonaram field will be regulated to protect the ground.

Deputy commissioner, Kamrup (metro) Samir Kumar Sinha said the Sonaram field on the bank of the Brahmaputra has full potential to become one of the most attractive venues to hold fairs, exhibitions, cultural functions and other public meetings. The successful hosting of the 12th Guwahati International Trade Fair is an example, he said. “Though the blanket ban on holding non-official functions at the Judges Field after the Republic Day blast has been slightly modified, the administration has decided to allot the field only for a very few important events. That’s why we have taken up the task of developing Sonaram field,” he said. First, the holes and craters will have to be repaired on the field. Second, grass will be planted and finally, something will be done to solve the waterlogging problem.

While a permanent stage will be constructed on the field, a separate parking place will have to carved out so that traffic flows smoothly on Mahatma Gandhi Road during big events. The administration has been raising funds for development activities over the recent years from the events held on Judges Field. Since 2003, it has been collecting a daily fee of Rs 6,000 from the organisers of fairs and other events there.

Sources said the administration now wants to develop Sonaram field on the lines of Judges Field. A part of the revenue will be donated to the Sonaram Govt HS School.

Like Judges Field, the Sonaram field also has a rich historical past. Swami Vivekananda delivered a lecture at Sonaram school housed on the same campus in 1901 after his Chicago visit. Legendary singer Bhupen Hazarika studied in the school and he never misses an opportunity to attend functions held there.