The Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), Dakshina Kannada unit, is set to open its new centenary building on July 26 at the old DC office premises in Mangaluru. The facility will be inaugurated by Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot.
According to IRCS District President Shantharam Shetty, the 20,000 sq ft building, constructed at a cost of ₹6 crore, features a basement, ground floor, and two upper floors.
- The ground floor includes an office, visitor lounge, and meeting space.
- The first floor houses an AC conference hall with 300-seat capacity.
- The second floor offers a sea-view conference hall accommodating 500 people.
The project, launched on 26 cents of land in 2021, faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been completed using CSR contributions, government support, and private donations.
With a 70-year legacy, IRCS Dakshina Kannada has been pivotal in providing free blood to pregnant women and concession-based blood to Wenlock Hospital patients. The branch now plans to extend free blood support to BPL patients at private hospitals and is working toward creating a dedicated fund for the same.
Future expansions include setting up an eye bank or dialysis unit, and a disaster management centre for training and emergency supplies. On non-operational days, the new conference halls will be available for NGOs and social organisations. A new mobile app for the unit will also be launched during the inauguration.