Plan to Lease 140-Year-Old Ooty Assembly Rooms Sparks Backlash from Conservationists

A proposal by the trustees of Ooty’s 140-year-old Assembly Rooms to lease the public cinema hall to a private operator has triggered strong objections from local residents, heritage experts, and former administrators. The plan seeks to convert the heritage facility into a commercial duplex-screen complex and develop the backyard into an additional theatrical space.

Built in 1886 as a British social and ballroom space, the Assembly Rooms is managed under the Nilgiris district administration as a non-commercial public charitable trust. Lord and Lady Willingdon purchased the property in 1922 and established the trust in 1923 to provide public entertainment and recreation, with local citizens contributing Rs 50,000 to commemorate the centenary of Udhagamandalam. The Tamil Nadu Governor serves as its ex-officio patron, while the Nilgiris District Collector acts as its ex-officio president.

Conservationists argue that commercial leasing violates the building's public mandate and protections under the Tamil Nadu Heritage Commission Act, 2012. Venugopal Dharmalingam, director of the Nilgiri Documentation Centre, said any structural or functional alteration must comply with statutory heritage provisions and described the leasing move as a theft of the hill station's heritage. Former trustee and lawyer B J Krishnan said the lease effectively privatises prime public land in the heart of Ooty town and contended that the trust should have sought state government guidance and funds instead.

Trust management defended the proposal, citing rising maintenance expenses and outdated infrastructure. Ramakrishnan Nambiar, a trustee, said income from parking fees is insufficient for upkeep and noted that residents frequently travel to the plains for modern cinema facilities. D Radhakrishnan, honorary secretary of the Assembly Rooms, stated that the intention is to install duplex screens and upgrade technology without disturbing the structure's heritage, adding that former governor R N Ravi had approved the development plan to facilitate trust deed amendments.

Nilgiris Collector and Trust President Lakshmi Bhavya Tanneeru confirmed that the trust is following legal processes and that the proposed arrangement is currently before a competent court for necessary permission. The board of trustees stated it will share detailed information with the public once formal approvals are secured.