Delhi will soon have its first high-tech multimedia library, the JP Narayan Library at Mandir Marg. It is scheduled to open by March 2025. The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has allocated ₹14.6 crore for the project.
Construction was initially set to finish by August 2024, but the timeline was extended. Additional specifications and design changes increased the cost, which was originally ₹6.8 crore when the project started.
Kuljeet Chahal, NDMC’s vice chairman, explained, “The library will provide a space for intellectual growth, learning, and access to information in the NDMC area.” The building will have three stories, with lifts and a multipurpose hall on the ground floor. The first and second floors will house library halls.
The structure covers 2,250 sqm, with 750 sqm on each floor. It will offer space for 30,000 books and seating for 200 people. While the building itself is complete, it will take an additional 4-5 months to finalize the setup.
The ground floor will feature a multipurpose auditorium and a green room for Navyug School students. The first floor will include a children’s activity zone, with games, clay activities, and creative spaces for up to 12 children.
To enhance the environment, the interiors on the first and second floors will have acoustical fabric panels and suspended lighting. A multimedia room will host seminars and book launches for up to 50 people. The second floor will also feature a research room for PhD scholars, a breakout zone on the terrace, a newspaper room, and an e-library offering over 5 lakh e-books and catalogs.
The project, originally proposed by the Union Ministry of Culture, began after NDMC submitted a report in 2014. In 2016, the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) allocated ₹2.16 crore for the construction. The rest of the funding has been provided by NDMC.
Initially, the project estimate was based on 2012 plinth area rates. When construction began in 2020, GST was at 12%. By 2021, the GST rate had increased to 18%, further affecting costs.
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