Patna Museum to get a facelift by next year

PATNA: The new structures at the century-old Patna Museum are being developed based on the Indo-Saracenic architecture, though with modern touch. Work on extension and upgradation of the museum is expected to be completed by next year.
The U-shaped structure will have three additional layers of galleries, covering the left, right and back sides of the existing main structure of the museum. The new building, which would come up in an area of 7,078sq metre, will be equipped with modern technology.It is being constructed with an expenditure of Rs 152 crore, including the cost of renovation of the existing building.
“Around 10% work has been completed so far. The project will gather pace after relocation of trees,” said an executive engineer of the state building construction department (BCD). For relocation of trees coming in way of the new building, the BCD officials have sent a request letter to the department of environment, forest and climate change.
“Once the trees are cleared, the construction work will speed up and it will be completed by the next 18 months. The expansion work had commenced in October last year after the work tender was awarded to private companies. The estimated cost of the construction and renovation is Rs 71 crore while Rs 62 crore is for the exhibits, new look of galleries and digital expansion,” the executive engineer said.
The one-storey building will have a digital gallery based on the theme of ‘Ganga river and its origin’, which will showcase the evolution of civilisation on the banks of the Ganga and the emergence of Patliputra on the shores of the Ganga. This gallery will be of same length as the existing building. It is being constructed behind the old structure. A play area for kids is also being developed between these two structures.
Besides, there will office space, reception area, auditorium exhibit area, conference hall, orientation room and storerooms. A garden with around 700 old sculptures will add beauty to the campus.
The galleries at the existing building will be redesigned to give a new look to the museum. According to museum’s curator Shankar Suman, the artefacts and the rare objects will be displayed in chronological form as per their timeline and era.
“All the galleries will be theme-based. The main objective of the extension and renovation is to rearrange the artefacts in chronological order. As of now, only 5% of total artefacts with the museum are on display in the galleries at the main building, while the remaining are locked in the storeroom due to space crunch,” Suman said.
Established in 1917, the Patna Museum housed over 75,000 antiquities, including more than 4,000 terracotta and stone sculptures and 28,000 coins.