Science city construction work may begin next month

PATNA: Construction of the proposed Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Science City at Rajendra Nagar in Patna is likely to begin from February and complete by the end of 2020. The bidding process for roping in a firm for the purpose will be finalized by January 14.
With state-of-the-art technologies, the G+1 building will be developed at an estimated cost of Rs 397 crore on a 15 acre land near Moin-ul-Haq Stadium.The science city project was conceptualized in 2012 to promote and popularize science among common people and preserve the illustrious history of scientific development in Bihar.
While Bengaluru-based firm Flying Elephant prepared the architectural design of the building, National Institute of Technology-Patna students examined other factors like location of the project, soil quality and seismic zone classification. Science and technology (S&T) department officials approved the design in December last.
According to S&T director Atul Sinha, the building will have four galleries — ‘Body and Mind’, ‘Space and Astronomy’, ‘Basic Sciences’ and ‘Sustainable Planet’ — on the ground floor. The first floor will house four learning suites — ‘Maker Space’, ‘Big Data Centre’, ‘Kitchen’ and ‘Gym’.
“There will also be a separate dormitory building, which will be connected with the main building, for schoolkids who want to stay there as part of a study tour or excursion,” Sinha said.
Meanwhile, the expert exhibit committee of the science city has selected more than 200 exhibits for display at the proposed building. Sinha, who is also a member of the committee, said a Montreal-based company GSM Project would shortlist the exhibits and prepare the final designs.
“We had selected some exhibits during our visit to museums of Minnesota (US), Montreal (Canada) and Amsterdam (Netherlands) in December last. The Montreal-based firm will decide what materials will be used for each exhibit,” Sinha said, adding the estimated cost of the building as well as exhibits was likely to go up.
Apart from Sinha, the other members of the exhibit committee included eminent scientist and Padma Shri recipient Manas Bihari Verma, National Council of Science Museums’ former director general I K Mukherjee, Science City-Kolkata director general A D Choudhury, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research’s former director Vijay Singh, IIT- Kanpur’s Prof Vinod Tare and University of Calcutta’s Dr Tushar Kanti Ghosh.