After prolonged delay, Kottayam Science City all set to open

After several postponements, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the first phase of the Kottayam Science City coming at Kozha in Kuravilangad on Thursday. The first phase of the science city, the Science Centre, being established under the auspices of the Kerala State Science and Technology Museum under the Department of Higher Education, will start functioning.

The science city is being built on 30 acres of land allocated by the State government. The focal point of the project is the Science Centre.

The Science Centre building, which spans 47,147 square feet, houses science galleries on fun science, marine life and science, and emerging technology. It is also equipped with a 3D theatre, exhibition area, activity centre, seminar hall, conference hall and workshops. In addition, a science park, dinosaur enclave and telescope for astronomical observation too have been set up around the Science Centre.

Bio-diversity park

With the cooperation of the Kuravilangad grama panchayat and the Uzhavoor block panchayat, a bio-diversity park is also being established in the area.

In the second phase, the science city project envisages a planetarium, motion simulator, augmented reality/virtual reality theatres, musical fountain, light and sound show, astronomical observatory, gardens, visitor facilities, entrance gate and related infrastructure.

The project’s inauguration comes after multiple delays and repeated postponements of the launch date. While Higher Education Minister R. Bindu had initially informed the Assembly that the facility would be inaugurated on January 1, Kerala Congress (M) chairperson Jose K. Mani, MP, later announced a revised date of May 11. However, following a subsequent visit to the site, the Minister stated that the inauguration would take place before the end of May, only for it to be postponed again due to adverse weather conditions.

Two factions

Meanwhile, the project also became a flashpoint in the ongoing tussle between the two factions of the Kerala Congress.

Soon after Mr. Mani’s visit to the facility in May, a delegation from the rival faction also toured the site and accused the Left Democratic Front government of repeatedly missing deadlines and failing to ensure the project’s timely launch.