MC to infuse new life into planetarium

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 27

The only planetarium of the city will be upgraded as the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation has decided to bring technical improvement in the existing system. After getting approval from the Finance and Contracts Committee, the officials concerned have completed the procedure to float tenders for the purchase of the advanced system.

Inaugurated in 1987, Nehru Planetarium was much-sought-after place for city residents, especially children. But since the system has become outdated, the number of visitors has gradually come down.

Now, the officials claimed that once the advanced gadgets such as a digital projector, sound system and a digital library for showing programmes related to astronomy were installed, the planetarium would again start drawing crowds of visitors. A total of Rs 49.64 lakh is likely to be spent on the upgrade of the planetarium.

Municipal Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori said it was the only place in the city where science-related programmes were screened to educate children, so they had decided to replace the outdated system. Once tenders are opened, they would allot works that would take almost two months time to complete.