GUWAHATI, Sept 8 – The State PWD has started a contour survey of the land in Nazirakhat in Sonapur near here, where the ambitious Science City is to come up.

Once the survey is completed, architects from the National Council of Science Museum (NSCM) will carry out landscaping of the place and then a formal foundation ceremony will be conducted. Senior Science and Technology department officials told The Assam Tribune that the contour survey started on September 5.

“We hope the survey to be completed at the earliest so that bhoomi poojan and shilanyas ceremony can take place,” said an official.

The state-of-the-art Science City project would be spread across 250 bighas of land and would require an investment of Rs 110 crore. Of the total funding, 90 per cent would be from the Union government’s Ministry of Culture and the remaining from the State.

“Of the Ministry of Culture’s Rs 99 crore share, we have already received a part, while Rs 11 crore has been given by the State to NSCM for construction of the project. Logistical support for boundary wall, developing the land, retaining wall and water would be provided by the State government,” he said.

NSCM will undertake designing and construction of the main building, spread across 30 acres, and it will be handed over to the State government once completed. The Assam Science Technology and Environment Council (ASTEC) is the nodal agency for the project.

Besides the main building with its exhibits, sky theatre, lecture halls and auditorium, the place will also have stalls, car parking, an eco-park, and other ancillary facilities.

“After laying of the foundation stone, NSCM is expected to finish work on the main building within 54 months. It will be a totally green campus,” said an official.

Courtesy: by PRANJAL BHUYAN,  The Assam Tribune