Expansion of State Museum in offing

BHUBANESWAR: The State Museum is all set to get a facelift through a fusion of tradition and modernity. The 54-year-old Museum would get new halls and galleries and measures will be taken to provide 3D viewing experience to the visitors. The Museum authorities have decided to set up four new galleries namely - Freedom Fighters, Odisha Through Ages, Patta Paintings and Evolution of Man in the Golden Jubilee block of the Museum. While infrastructural works for the galleries have been completed, expression of interest has been called at national level for execution of the project. Superintendent in-charge of the Museum Manjushree Samantarai said while the Odisha Through Ages gallery will showcase evolution of the State from Buddhist era to the present period, that of Patta paintings will highlight the ancient form of paintings in a unique manner. “What we have now is just the traditional method of display of artefacts in showcases. The artefacts in the new galleries will be arranged in a 3D format to attract more visitors,” she said. This will be done with the help of graphics, 3D models, sculptures and photographs.  There will be audio and video facilities at the section dedicated to freedom fighters that will include photographs, items and documents related to visits and stay of Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Bose and others in Odisha. Information on freedom fighters from the State will also be provided. The Government of India has reportedly sanctioned  Rs 2 crore for the new galleries. Steps are also being taken to renovate the existing ones. The renovation works of the armoury, natural history, epigraphy, archaeology and manuscripts galleries have been completed and work will soon begin in the mining and geology gallery. Sources said the Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC)  had sanctioned Rs 1.5 crore for the purpose this year and allocated Rs 50 lakh for the first phase of works. A herbal garden has also come up on 1.4 acres on the Museum premises. Earlier, plans were made to set up a gallery on Jagannath culture, but it was shelved as a similar project is being planned in Puri, sources added.The Museum will be celebrating its foundation day on December 29.