Godavari Kalakshetra name restored after four years

The name of Kakinada’s cultural centre, Godavari Kalakshetra, has been officially restored after four years, and it will soon open to the public. Kakinada Municipal Corporation Special Officer and District Collector S. Shan Mohan confirmed the news. An official statement issued on July 8 said: “The Municipal Council’s proposal to restore the name of Godavari Kalakshetra has been approved. The appeal by the public in this regard has also been considered”. 

Following COVID-19, the Kakinada Municipal Council had passed a resolution to rename the cultural centre after YSRCP Kakinada city president Ragireddi Venkata Jayaram Kumar alias Frooti Kumar, who died of Covid-19 .

The ₹20 crore cultural centre was developed by the Kakinada Smart City Corporation under the Smart City Mission. The three-floor centre, includes a 1,200-seat theatre, art galleries, and venues for various cultural, academic and traditional performances. 

Senior BJP leaders Y. Malakondiah and Duvvuri Subramanyam lauded the decision to restore the Godavari Kalakshetra, noting that the name shares an association with River Godavari.