National School of Drama (NSD) is planning to set up regional centres in the country and Pune is a front-runner in getting one. The reputation of city as a cultural capital of the country is giving it the edge even as the theatre community cannot hide its excitement

A budgetary allocation to set up such regional centres is being made in the 11th Plan and the idea is to set up at least one centre each year in five states. A 15-member high power committee of experts from all over the country was set up to make recommendations to expand the NSD.