Mangaluru : More than a year after being closed down for renovation, the Town Hall here is set to re-open on November 14, Children’s Day.

Performers of Yakshagana, drama, dance, music, and students, among others, were finding it difficult when the hall remained shut. Had it been open, it’s golden jubilee would have been observed last December.

Due to lack of planning by Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) on the extent of works to be taken up, the renovation was mired in controversies.

The Opposition BJP staged a dharna in front of the civic body this June, pressing the corporation to resume works which had come to a halt in between.

Slow progress of works provided an opportunity for the BJP to criticise the ruling Congress for not taking the renovation works seriously.

In fact, the renovation works got under way only two-and-half months ago, after splitting the works, getting approval from the council, and inviting short-term bids.

The civil works taken up by the Nirmiti Kendra, a year ago, had come to an abrupt halt after it reportedly refused to continue with all works.

Later the works were splitand given to different contractors.

K.S. Linge Gowda, executive engineer in-charge of the project, told The Hindu that the work orders for five different contractors were issued only during the last week of August. Now only 10 per cent of works were remaining. They were related to “fine tuning”, he said.

Mr. Gowda said that 80-100 workers are now busy in completing the works.

He said that the trial of sound and lighting system would be conducted on Wednesday. The hall would be inaugurated at 12.30 p.m. on Saturday. Cultural programmes have been scheduled.

B. Ramanath Rai, Minister in-charge of Dakshina Kannada, had set an October-end deadline for the renovation works.