Digital planetarium and dinosaur park to be built at Science City

Pushpa Gujral Science City (PGSC) at Kapurthala, which has completed its first year of opening, is all set to build the country's second digital planetarium and the first Dinosaurs' Park, which will be operational within an year.

"At present, the country has only one digital planetarium in Mumbai, and we have planned to develop the second one here for which the work has already been initiated. It will be completed in one year," R S Khandpur, director-general of the PGSC told reporters during the launch of large-format flim "Everest" in its Dome Theatre.

Apart from the planetarium, a Dinosaurs' Park depicting pre-dinosaur era, dinosaur era and post-dinosaur era with the dummy of 45 dinosaurs would be built in the science city within next eight months, he added.

About the other innovative projects of the science city, Khandpur said the science city was now vigorously working on the next phase of its development, which include buildings for the Energy Education and Awareness Park, which would demonstrate uses of various forms of non-conventional energy sources.

The Energy park, with an investment of Rs 1.75 crore, was being built with the financial support from the ministry of non-conventional energy sources and technical assistance from Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA). He said it would be inaugurated in the coming few months.

He further revealed that four exhibit galleries are under construction to house four new galleries including the science of sports, ecology and environment, health and Biotechnology and emerging technologies.

Khandpur further said ministry of railways had agreed to set up a Railway Gallery in the Science City and funds required for setting up the gallery had been made in the current Railway budget. Highlights of the gallery would be a steam engine, a children toy train and engine simulators, he said.

To apprise public with the military equipments, a special pavilion for Defence would be built in the science city and even the Air Headquarters have already sanctioned a MIG 23 for the Science city for the display and communication was already on with Indian Army for providing other material like tanks and missiles for the exhibition purpose, Dr Khandpur added.