Swami Vivekananda Hybrid Digital 3D Planetarium to be launched on Mar 1

Mangaluru: The day has finally arrived for the launch of India’s and Asia’s first-of-its-kind Hybrid Digital 8K 3D Planetarium. The Swami Vivekananda Hybrid Digital 8K 3D Planetarium at Pilikula Nisargadhama will be inaugurated on March 1.

Speaking to reporters on February 24, MLA J R Lobo said, “The project of building the planetarium began in 2008 with an initial estimated cost of Rs 8 Crore. Over the period of construction, the cost increased and the project was finally completed with a total cost of Rs 36 Crore. The planetarium will be inaugurated by M R Seetharam, Minister for Science and Technology, Planning, Programme Monitoring and Statistics on March 1.”

Lobo thanked Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil and former DC Jagadish for taking the initiative to complete the project.

“This is a Hybrid Digital 8K 3D Planetarium and is the first of its kind in Asia. The state government has given the nod for the formation of the Pilikula Development Authority for the management and development of the Dr. Shivaram Karanth Pilikula Nisargadhama. The Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada will be the governing chairperson of the authority. The MLAs of Mangaluru South, North and Moodbidri, experts and scientists will be the members of the authority. Also, there will be two principal secretarial officers under the state level advisory committee who will monitor the Pilikula Development Authority”, Lobo informed.

He also said that the district administration is also planning to set up a full fledged aquarium at an estimated cost of Rs 30 Crore at Pilikula.

Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil also informed that the Swami Vivekananda Hybrid Digital 8K 3D Planetarium could accommodate 170 viewers adding that there would be six shows per day, the tickets for which can be booked on bookmyshow.com. The ticket fare for adults will be Rs 60 and for children will be Rs 25.

In celebration of the inauguration, for a few days, the district administration will provide tickets for Rs 100 which can be used to visit the various attractions in Pilikula including Planetarium, Biological Park and the lake.

“For academic institutions, tickets will be given at a concessional rate. The district administration is also planning to bring the children of two government schools once a week and educate them on the constellations. The shows with themes of space technology, planets, environmental science and geography will be done in English, Hindi and Kannada”, the DC added.

K V Rao, Director of Pilikula Regional Science Centre and others were present at the press meet.