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A 3.5-acre land, being developed by the Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC) at Beedinagudde for holding public functions at a cost of Rs. 98 lakh, is likely to be ready and thrown open to the public by January 20.

A big open air stage had already been built on the eastern side of the land two years ago, but could not be used because the ground had not been developed.

It has been a long pending demand of the people to have a big ground to hold not only government functions but also political rallies and other cultural functions in the city.

Earlier, these functions used to be held at the Ajjarkad Grounds, but a district stadium with a synthetic track has been built there and it is out of bounds for holding functions. For some time, public meetings and rallies used to be held at the Adiudupi Grounds, but this was fenced as a helipad was built here.

With this, most of the big public rallies, and Independence Day and Republic Day functions are being held at the MGM College grounds. Though a big public ground with an open air stage was planned at Beedinagudde in 2013, it was abandoned mid-way after the Bharatiya Janata Party lost power in the CMC, and Congress came to power.

Only the work on the open air stage was completed on the ground. After getting Rs. 98 lakh from the Udupi Urban Development Authority for the development of the ground, the CMC asked the Nirmiti Kendra to take up the work.

They include construction of a compound wall, a toilet block, a pathway around the ground with interlock tiles and a small garden besides the pathway, six gates and a main gate and installation of high-mast lamps. Two earthmovers are already leveling the ground and the construction of compound has also started. Arun Kumar, project director of Nirmiti Kendra, said that the work would be completed by January 20. The ground could hold over 1,000 persons. “The plan is to celebrate the Republic Day function at the new ground,” he said.

An approach road with storm water drains have already been constructed around the ground. “Once this ground is developed, all the problems regarding holding government functions, big public meeting and also big cultural programmes including staging of plays and Yakshagana will be solved,” P. Yuvaraj, CMC president, said.