Kakinada:District Collector Shan Mohan has approved a change of name for the city’s prominent art auditorium to Godavari Kalakshetram.
The facility had been erected some time ago under the 40th division of Kakinada city corporation. It has a seating facility for 1200 persons and space for some art galleries, all done with funds from the central government’s Smart City project.
During the term of the last government, the facility had been named as the Ragireddy Venkata Jayaram Kumar Kalakshetram, after YSRC city president Vijaya Kumar, who died during Covid-19 period.
Many people had opposed the name and requested the government to retain the name Godavari Kalakshetram.
Based on this plea, as also on a report submitted by the city commissioner Bhavana, the collector approved a resolution passed by the civic body proposing to rename the auditorium.
He issued an order to this effect on Thursday.
Citizens Initiative secretary Duvvuri Subrahmanyam, who previously campaigned against the naming of the auditorium after Ragireddy Venkata Jayakumar Kalakshetram, hailed the present decision.
BJP leader Yarlagadda Ramkumar, the party’s senior leader Y Malakondaiah and others said the commissioner and the collector did the right thing.
