Bhubaneswar, Dec. 25: Three major auditoriums in the state capital - Rabindra Mandap and Utkal Mandap on Secretariat Road and Bhanja Kala Mandap near Kalpana Square - maintained by the culture department are plagued by a number of infrastructural problems.

The situation at the auditoriums has stayed the same for the past two years. In 2013, the culture department had revamped the interiors of Rabindra Mandap, while the stage at Utkal Mandap too was given a facelift. However, Bhanja Kala Mandap remains neglected as few programmes are organised here. Nothing has been done to provide proper parking space and CCTVs at the auditoriums.

Rabindra Mandap, the largest of the three facilities, was established in 1972.

The auditorium has three gates. The one that opens towards Unit-IV plunges into darkness after sunset due to lack of proper lighting.

Moreover, two-wheeler theft has also become common. Visitors allege that there is no mechanism to check theft. Debendra Bal, 36, teacher and resident of Saheed Nagar, said it was not safe to park two-wheelers inside the premises of the auditorium.

"A friend of mine lost his motorcycle, which he had parked here on December 15. Despite being one of the most prominent auditoriums in the city, no token is issued to the vehicle owners here. Visitors have to park their vehicles at their own risk," he said.

Besides, there is no CCTV camera to keep tabs on movement of people in the parking area. Cameras are installed on the auditorium premises, but not at strategic locations.

Rabindra Prusty, organising member of a cultural event, said security of vehicles could be ensured when cameras would be installed at important points. Though the authorities collect fees from organisers, facilities are yet to improve here, he said.

Utkal Mandap and Bhanja Kala Mandap, too, have similar issues. Lack of proper parking space has emerged as a major problem here. Vehicles are parked on roadside that leads to congestion on the busy roads.

Visitors at Bhanja Kala Mandap have been complaining of poor seats and toilet facilities. The same infrastructural lapses are also there at Utkal Mandap that has open-air seating facility.

Sources said none of the staff member was trained in basic fire fighting skills.

A culture department official said the facilities at the three units were monitored on a regular basis.

"There are a few issues of lack of parking space and CCTVs at the auditoriums premises that many people have pointed out," he said.

A detailed plan to revamp the auditoriums will be finalised in the next two months and would be submitted to the finance department for funding, he said.

"The amount required for creating parking space, installing CCTV cameras has not been estimated yet. However, it would be done on the basis of feedback received from both event organisers and audience," he said.