Patna, Jan. 31: Srikrishna Science Centre is ready with plans to develop a planetarium on its premises and is only awaiting a nod from the district administration.

The proposed facility will have two floors and a dome-shaped planetarium. The science centre has prepared the detailed project report. Once the centre gets the green signal, it will float tenders.

Anurag Kumar, project co-ordinator, Srikrishna Science Centre, told The Telegraph: “The ground floor and the first floor of the proposed facility would have two exhibition galleries spread over 6,000sqft each. Permanent exhibits will be displayed in the galleries. The dome-shaped planetarium, which would be fully air-conditioned, would have a seating capacity of 80. The tender documents and detailed project report have been prepared.”

He added: “The file was sent to Patna Municipal Corporation around a-month-and-a-half ago. The civic body had forwarded it to the revenue department. We have received communication from the office of the Patna district magistrate that the file is likely to be cleared very soon.”

The planetarium would be used to project visuals of stars and constellations for visitors, said an officer at the science centre.

Anurag said: “We have received funds from the National Council of Science Museums to develop the proposed mini-planetarium. The tender documents are ready. Depending upon timely approval to our proposal, we will float the tenders. It is expected to take around two years to complete the construction work, including development of the galleries and installation of equipment at the planetarium.”

Patna district magistrate Sanjay Kumar Singh told The Telegraph: “We will expedite the process of constructing the mini-planetarium at Srikrishna Science Centre from our end.”

The officer of Srikrishna Science Centre added that the proposed facility would be spread over an area of around 0.25 acres. A Calcutta-based firm has prepared the detailed project report for the facility that will be developed for around Rs 2.15 crore.

The science centre that is spread over an area of 1.5 acres and functions under the National Council of Science Museums, an autonomous body under the Union ministry of culture. At present, one of the major attractions at the science centre is an air-conditioned 3D film theatre.