The facelift plans of the State Museum, considered a rich repository of Odisha’s culture and heritage, seems to be moving at snail’s pace. Except for some renovation works in the existing nine galleries, there has been no development as far as expansion plans are concerned.
The 54-year-old museum was to introduce four new galleries ‘Evolution of Man’, ‘Patta Painting’, ‘Freedom Fighters’ and ‘Odisha Through Ages’ in the Golden Jubilee block.
Plans were also in the pipeline to provide 3D viewing experience to the visitors.
With special emphasis on the freedom fighters’ gallery, it was decided that there would be audio and video facilities at the section, including photographs, memorabilia and documents related to visits and stay of Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Chandra Bose and other leaders to Odisha. Information on freedom fighters from the State will also be provided. In fact, the State Government had provided Rs 20 lakh to the museum for setting up the gallery in 2009-10 fiscal.
Sources said only infrastructural work for the four galleries has been completed so far. A national tender for designing and setting up of the galleries floated last year too failed. It is learnt that the private parties who had expressed interest in setting up the galleries did not meet the State Government standards. Since then, there has been little development in the work.
B esides, in 2009-10, the Government had earmarked over Rs 15 crore for development tourism in Bhubaneswar as a part of which Rs 1 crore was sanctioned for setting up a maritime museum and aquarium on the State Museum premises. For implementation of the first phase of work on the two projects, the Government had provided Rs 15 lakh to the museum but here too work remained sluggish.
Sources said under the 12th Finance Commission award Rs 1.25 crore was used to renovate the existing galleries. Admitting to the delay in setting up the four galleries, in-charge superintendent of the museum, Manjushree Samantaray, said works would start soon.