THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Five years after its announcement, the much-hyped Digital Museum project launched at Kanakakunnu Palace has been stalled owing to a delay in finalising the content to be displayed at the museum. Ever since the launch of the project, the Kanakakunnu Palace known for its rich architectural values and bustling cultural activities, has become inaccessible to the public.
The Digital Museum project that aims to leverage technology to create an immersive experience for visitors on the rich heritage and history of Travancore and Kerala was launched back in March 2019 with much fanfare by the tourism department during the previous term of the LDF government.
The department had roped in Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society Ltd (ULCCS) for the execution of the Rs 8.65-crore project. Though the conservation project and civil work have been completed the special committee constituted by the tourism department to curate the content to be displayed at the museum has yet to come up with the final content.
According to official sources, as per the initial plan the digital museum will host and feature the rich history of Travancore and throw light on the politics, culture, rituals, religion, art, ayurveda traditions and many more.
“As per the original detailed project report (DPR), the museum would feature the history of Travancore. However, the committee constituted for curating the content wanted to include the history of Kerala. The civil work and conservation of the palace have been completed and we are waiting for the content,” said an official of ULCCS.
It is learned that the change in content may increase the costs, and the authorities are thinking of launching phase II of the project so that more history can be incorporated at the museum. According to sources, a meeting of the committee curating the content has been scheduled for next week.
“We will be able to start the digital production of the content only after getting the finalised content. It’s going to take another three months,” said an official source. The Digital Museum has been divided into seven zones and is expected to offer a wide variety of user experiences for the visitors.
The rare audio-visual experience will be topped with a sound-and-light show every evening. The government has given an administrative sanction of Rs 4.90 crore for setting up the museum and Rs 1 crore for its operation and maintenance.
“The welcome zone of the museum will have touch-activated interactive displays, which will highlight and provide an outline of user expectations. There will be two multi-touch interactive tables that eight users can use at a time which will provide rare exhibits and pictures that are interactive,” said an official associated with the project. The audio-video room will offer a comprehensive glimpse of the history of Kerala.
‘Museum content yet to be finalised’
An official source said that the digital production of the content can be started only after getting the finalised content to be displayed at the museum. This will take another three months
The project was launched as part of the 1,000th-day celebration of the LDF government
The government has given an administrative sanction of Rs 4.90 crore for setting up the museum and Rs 1 crore for its operation and maintenance