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.