The work
on the first phase of the Science City at Kottayam will started now, with
the State Government
releasing a sum of Rs 7.25 crore and an equal amount being
allotted by the Centre.
National Council for
Science Museum (NCSM) will implement the project for the state and the Kerala
State Science and Technology Museum (KSSTM) will be assisting the project which
is envisaged to be one of the largest Science City in Asia. The total
expenditure for the project to be completed in four phases is estimated to be
Rs 100 crore. ‘’We will be able to zero in on a location in two
weeks’ time as the amount of Rs 14.5 crore for the first phase of
the project has been released. The Central Government will implement the
project and will hand it over to State Government,’’ Arun Gerald Prakash,
Director, Kerala State Science and Technology Museum, told.
The project in Kottayam would be
the fourth of its kind in India, following the ones in Kolkata, Jalandhar and
Ahmedabad. He said the first phase would have three mega science galleries,
science park, open air auditorium and planetarium.
The second phase will have mega
planetarium, laser shows, motion stimulator, conference and seminar halls. The Science City complex in Kottayam would also
have all that the Kolkata Science Centre complex boasts of. ‘’We are
envisaging the project to be larger than that of Kolkata and Singapore Science
City as Kerala is a literate state with higher number of science graduates. The
idea is to make science reach the common man and make it exciting. A total of
eight thematic galleries that includes robotics, astronomy, aerospace,
oceanography and a water theme science park is also planned,’’ told Arun Gerald
Prakash.
Like any other Science Parks, the
Science City will have a host of interactive exhibits on science and technology
for both education and entertainment purposes for the visitors.
The Kolkata Science Centre
complex which is now the largest in the country comprises Space Odyssey,
Dynamotion, Evolution Theme Park, Maritime Centre and a Science Park. The
Space Odyssey houses India’s first Large Format Film Theatre, Time Machine, 3-D
Vision Theatre, Mirror Magic and exhibits on space science, motion, electricity
and virtual reality. The Dynamotion Hall has a Butterfly Corner, Aquaria, an
exposition on giant robotic insects.
