Mangaluru : The Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy will function from its new premises, Tulu Bhavan, at Urwa Stores from Monday.

Minister in-charge of Dakshina Kannada B. Ramanath Rai inaugurated the building on Sunday. So far, the academy has been functioning in a rented room in the Mangaluru City Corporation building at Lalbagh.

The bhavan, spread in a 50,000 sq.ft. area, has a cellar for parking vehicles. In addition it has a ground floor and two more floors.

The office of the academy is housed in the ground floor in about 12,000 sq.ft. area. The ground floor has the administrative office, a mini hall and another large hall, a meeting hall, a dormitory and bathroom facilities.

The first and second floors are yet to be completed. The first floor has a large hall with 800 seating capacity. The top floor would be reserved for setting up museum and art gallery, according to the Registrar of the academy B. Chandrahasa Rai.

Of the Rs. 4.8 crore sanctioned to the building by the government Rs. 4 crore have been released.

The bhavan would still require about Rs. 1.5 crore for which a detailed proposal would be sent to the government, he said.

President of the academy M. Janaki Brahmavar, Ivan D’Souza, MLC, former presidents of the academy were present on the occasion.