The auditorium will undergo its second major revamp decades after it was constructed in 1978.
The auditorium witnessed a major overhaul in 2005.
The popular facility for hosting drama and cultural events is located adjoining the serene Masunda lake in Naupada ward and is considered the identity of the city.
“Several theatre patrons and artists from the industry approached Shinde with a need for overhauling the facilities at Rangayatan recently. We had also conducted an inspection and audit of the original structure and found it to be in good condition. However, there was a need for modifying and upgrading the internal facilities like green rooms, seating arrangements, AC system among others. We accordingly prepared a proposal and sent it for state approval recently following which it was okayed on Thursday,” Thane municipal commissioner Abhijit Bangar said.
The present overhaul is being done nearly 23 years later and is likely to add a modern touch to the iconic structure retaining its historic look, officials said.
The 1,080 seat capacity Gadkari Rangayatan, as it is popularly called among theatre fans and locals, was built in 1978 and underwent a renovation in 2005 and has since then witnessed minor repair works every few years, observed officials.
Officials said the modifications to facilities will be executed only after consulting theatre artists and the audience.
The work will be executed once the paperwork and designs are complete and the overhaul would be done in the shortest time period considering the popularity of the facility mong theatre lovers, officials said.
