DOMBIVLI: Good news for theatre lovers in Dombivli. The redevelopment of the Savitribai Phule Auditorium, the city’s best-known cultural venue, is set to pick up pace after the state’s Urban Development Department approved ₹30 crore for the remaining work.
The Government Resolution (GR) was issued on November 4 on the orders of Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde. The project had earlier received ₹15 crore, which takes the total to ₹45 crore. Kalyan MP Dr Shrikant Shinde had been following up on the funding with the state government.
The money has been sanctioned under the scheme for special provisions for basic amenities in municipal corporation areas. The state will bear 100 per cent of the cost, and the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) will carry out the work. This means the project should no longer stall for want of funds.
What it means for theatregoers
For years, the auditorium hosted Marathi plays, music concerts, cultural programmes and literary events, and often put up “house full” boards. It was shut in May 2025 after a portion of its ceiling collapsed, and since then Dombivli’s audiences have had to travel to Kalyan, Thane or Mumbai to watch a play. Local artists and drama groups also lost their home stage.
The redeveloped venue promises a better experience on both sides of the curtain:
- A grand main stage with improved seating, modern lighting and a fresh colour scheme
- A separate, smaller drama theatre for experimental and small-format plays
- Rehearsal rooms where local artists and troupes can practise
- A dedicated art gallery for exhibitions
- Upgraded interiors along with work on the outer premises
For audiences, this means comfortable seating and better production quality close to home. For amateur groups and college troupes, the smaller theatre and rehearsal rooms could offer an affordable space to stage and polish their work, something the city has long lacked.
Once complete, the auditorium is expected to serve not just Dombivli but nearby areas as well, restoring the city’s identity as a cultural hub. KDMC has not yet announced a reopening date.