RACE TO WORLD-CLASS ARCHIVE CLUB

Relaxation was the last thing on the minds of officials of the art, culture and youth affairs department on Sunday.

They were busy hunting for reasons to justify the cost - a whopping Rs 498 crore - of the under-construction Bihar Museum, popularly known as International Museum, at Bailey Road.

According to the Patna High Court directive, the state government has to submit an affidavit in this regard on Tuesday during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by one Ashok Kumar. The PIL has questioned the utility of constructing the museum utilising funds to the tune of Rs 498 crore.

From the office of the art, culture and youth affairs department in the new secretariat to the chief minister's secretariat, files and folders related to the museum were being closely scrutinised to gather all relevant information to support its cost.

The Telegraph spoke to a few officers as well as experts to assess the developments related to Bihar Museum so far, which has become the talk of the town.

Cost component

The state cabinet had approved the Bihar Museum project with an initial estimated outlay of Rs 400 crore on May 8, 2012. Of Rs 400 crore, Rs 200 crore was to be spent towards construction work, including the architect's consultancy charges and Rs 150 crore towards interior work, including furniture, fixtures, display panels and equipment among others.

"The building construction department prepared the Rs 298.49-crore final outlay for construction work following the selection of Japan-based Maki & Associates with OPOLIS (Indian partner) as the architectural consultant for the museum project and the corresponding detailed project report it submitted. Accordingly, the revised project cost came to Rs 498.49 crore based on which the tender for construction was floated in June 2012," said a senior official in the art, culture and youth affairs department.

Objects on display

Officials in the art, culture and youth affairs department claimed that the final list of artefacts to be kept on display at Bihar Museum is still to be furnished by Canada-based Lord Cultural Resources, the master planning consultant for the project.

Sources, however, claimed that a majority of the artefacts to be kept at Bihar Museum would be from those kept at the existing Patna Museum.

"When Patna Museum was inaugurated in 1928, it had only 10,000 artefacts, which has now increased to around 40,000. Of those, only 2,000 are on display owing to dearth of space," said the official in the art and culture department.

Sources claimed that Bihar Museum would display around 25,000 artefacts and also have audio-visual facilities, including 3-D panels and short movies.

"The museum would showcase the history of Bihar and its contribution to the Indian civilisation, right from pre-historic times to 1764 AD," said the official.

There would be four history galleries and each would display 1,000 artefacts.

Expert opinion

S.S. Biswas, former director-general at National Museum, New Delhi, claimed that Bihar Museum would probably be the biggest museum in the country. "It is not a bad idea at all to develop such a large museum, especially considering the rich contribution made by Bihar to the Indian civilisation. From the origin of Sikhism and Buddhism to being the administrative capital of Magadh Empire under Emperor Ashok, Bihar is the only state to give so much to the Indian civilisation. If the state government has the money and is willing to spend to showcase its rich history, then it is a good step," said Biswas. Biswas added that even National Museum is built only on one-third of its proposed master plan.

Speaking on the cost component, he said: "It is difficult to say whether Rs 500 crore is justified for a museum because there is no benchmark for museums. A museum can also be built with Rs 5,000 crore. Moreover, the Bihar government has roped in big players in the project, including Lord Cultural Resources, which is a renowned name in this sphere."

Current status

Officials in the art, culture and youth affairs department claimed 90 per cent of construction work on Bihar Museum has been completed. There are 10 blocks.

"The children's and orientation and free show galleries would be opened by June. Construction work is complete in both galleries and fabrication work is in progress," said the official.

According to sources, the museum is divided into four different zones - educational, lobby, administrative and permanent. The educational zone would comprise a library, museum learning and education centre, where courses on archaeology and history among other similar topics would be taught. The lobby zone would comprise a big multi-purpose events space, VIP lounge and cafeteria-cum-coffee bar. The administrative zone would comprise a three-storeyed building accommodating various offices. Moreover, the permanent gallery zone would comprise a Buddhist sculpture courtyard surrounded by two fully air-conditioned double-floored permanent collection galleries.