Vellore Corporation would soon take over the Anna Kalaiarangam building run by the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR). Officials said the building would  serve as a permanent asset for the local body.

Mayor P Karthiyayini said, “Since the place was located in the heart of the city, the local body planned to utilise it for commercial purposes to increase the revenue of the Vellore Corporation.”

She said a letter was received from the secretary of Tamil Development and Information on November 1 this year permitting the Vellore Corporation to take over the building without any cost. The letter also noted that the State government did not have any liability over the asset and the lease period of the shops put up in front of the building had also expired. The letter also permitted the local body to make changes in the building structures.

Corporation Commissioner P Janaki Raveendran said a resolution was passed in this connection at the Corporation council meet on November 21, 2013.

Janaki added that obtaining a place situated in the heart of the city without any cost was not only an asset to the local body, but would also serve as security against loan sanction by other government bodies and financing agencies, to execute various development works in the city.

Anna Kalaiarangam is said to be the only cinema hall run by the State government in Tamil Nadu. The DIPR has been maintaining this 500-seat capacity theatre ever since the State government took it over from its previous owner, Thimmaiah, of Mysore in 1968.

Since then, the Department has been screeningdocumentary films and children’s films during the Children’s Film Festivals apart from renting it out to the schools and private parties to conduct magic shows and exhibitions.

Government programmes and many cultural and folk performances by the Department of Tamil Development and Information are also being conducted.