The first planetarium of the State is all set to come up within the next two months near Science City, Chiraundi in Ranchi.
The civil work of the project worth Rs. 26 crore is almost completed and the work of installation of machines is in process.
Executive Director of Jharkhand Science, Technology and Innovation Council (JSTIC), which is responsible for the construction of the planetarium, GSP Gupta said, “The diameter of the planetarium is 15 metres having a 160 seating capacity. The dome has already been constructed and electrification work is complete.”
The agreement for construction of the planetarium was signed between the government of Jharkhand and Creative Museum Designer Works, a Government of India agency under National Council of Science Museum (NCSM) on February 2, 2014.
“The construction work was supposed to be completed within 36 months but it got delayed due to several reasons, including the fact that most of the equipment to be installed is to be brought in from outside the nation,” Gupta said.
He added, “NCSM recently had a meeting with the higher and technical education secretary and assured that the planetarium would be handed over by March this year.”
Apart from the one in Ranchi, two more planetariums are set to come up, one in Dumka and another in Deoghar, both in the next six months.
The planetarium in Dumka, which is being constructed with a budget of Rs. 30 crore will have a diameter of 15 metres and a seating capacity of 160.“This is going to be a hybrid planetarium instead of a regular one. The traditional planetarium is more science based, while the hybrid planetarium has more aesthetic effect and is more pleasing for the eyes of viewers,” Gupta said.
The agreement for construction of the project was signed in June 2015 and it was supposed to be completed by mid 2018, however, the project is running a year late.
The third and a smaller planetarium is all set to come up at Nandan Hill in Deoghar in another six months. The 55 seater planetarium with 8.5 mts diameter is being constructed with the budget of Rs. 8.5 crore.
“The planetariums will serve two purposes, educational and tourism. The concept of council is edutainment, which is providing education through entertainment and a planetarium is the best way to do it,” Gupta said.
He added, “As Ranchi is the State Capital and Dumka and Deoghar both witness huge tourist footfall due to two major temples Basukinath and Baba Dham, along with having numerous other tourist spots, the planetarium would be an added attraction for the visitors.”
