SAMBALPUR: More than six months after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the Western Odisha Freedom Fighters’ Memorial Hall and Museum at Gourisankar Sahani Park here, the museum is yet to be made operational for visitors.
The museum, located along the Ring Road, was inaugurated on February 27. Spread over 1.28 acres of land, the museum has been constructed at a cost of about `1.05 crore in the park under Sambalpur Development Authority (SDA). The fund was sanctioned by Western Odisha Development Council (WODC).
Besides the double-storied building of the museum, 20 feet high pillar has also been constructed in memory of the freedom fighters of the First War of Independence in 1857. The museum, which is believed to be a source of infotainment for the denizens, was executed by the Public Works Department (PWD).
As per the plan, portraits of freedom fighters of this region, including son of soil Veer Surendra Sai, were to be installed in the museum with a brief history of their contribution.
Contacted, Collector Samarth Verma said some interior work needs to be carried out before it is thrown open to the public. The district administration would move WODC for funding of the interior work and once it is completed, the museum would be operational, he added.