Mangaluru: The foundation stone for the Abbaka Bhavan in Thokkottu was laid nearly six years ago. Even though there was some work done after the foundation stone was laid, the rest of the work is expected to be taken up in full swing this year. The construction of the Abbakka Bhavan is among the projects related to Rani Abbakka, which have been pending in the Dakshina Kannada district.

It is estimated that the construction of the Abbakka Bhavan will cost around Rs 8 crores. Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister Kota Srinivas Poojary, during this year’s Abbakka Utsav, hinted that the work will start shortly. Following the administrative approval by the state government, the Karnataka Housing Board (KHB) has now been asked to submit a plan for the project.

It can be noted that the demand for the Aabbakka Bhavan was made by the Veerarani Abbakka Utsava Committee, which started organising the Abbakka Utsava in Ullal in the year 1997, by collecting funds from the people. The committee held the Utsava by collecting donations till 2010, after which the state government started allocating funds for the annual event.

The then Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda initially released Rs 2 crores for the Bhavan and Rs 5 crores was released when the foundation stone was laid in June 2014. In addition, the government gave Rs 1 crores later.

The three-storey Bhavan will come up on land measuring about 0.4 acres. This includes the 20 cents of land originally earmarked for the construction of the Gadi Bhavan for cultural activities in border areas.

The Bhavan will have an auditorium that can accommodate about 1000 persons on the upper ground floor, while parking for vehicles will in the basement. The lower ground floor will have a dining hall. A small auditorium and Abbakka Museum have been proposed on the first floor.