New Delhi: The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) is set to open the long-awaited JPN Multimedia Library at Mandir Marg by January 2025. The civic body has completed the construction phase and is now finalizing interiors, furniture, and high-tech installations to make the facility fully operational.
An NDMC official stated that the civil work has been completed, and financial bids for furniture, IT systems, and logistics items have been invited. The project, which was initially estimated at ₹6.8 crore, has now reached a total cost of around ₹14.6 crore following the inclusion of additional civil works, furniture, and fire safety systems.
Spread across 1,471 square metres, the library is located within the premises of Navyug School and features a ground-plus-two-storey structure equipped with a lift. It will include a multipurpose auditorium on the ground floor, with library halls on the first and second floors. Designed as a modern knowledge hub, the facility will accommodate around 200 visitors and stock nearly 30,000 books, with provisions for a dedicated e-library offering access to over five lakh e-books and catalogues. A multimedia visual room and a reading area for 30 users are also part of the design.
Officials noted that the Union Ministry of Culture initiated the project in 2016, agreeing to fund it partially. The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) later sanctioned ₹2.2 crore, while the remaining expenditure was borne by NDMC, which currently operates eight libraries across the city.
“We are developing facilities that promote quality learning for children and students. The new library will particularly benefit residents of Valmiki Sadan, Mandir Marg, Gole Market, and surrounding areas,” an NDMC representative said.
The facility will ensure accessibility for all, featuring public convenience facilities for men, women, and persons with disabilities on all floors. Visitors will be able to access the first floor via lift, where a reception area will manage book issuance and returns. Reading corners with suspended lighting will enhance the ambience for study and research.
While one entrance will be reserved for school students, other visitors will have access through a separate gate, ensuring inclusive community use of the space.
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