Cuttack, April 21: The Odisha State Maritime Museum now boasts of a state-of-the art 4D Special FX theatre that provides a visual experience with fourth dimensional environmental experiences using air blasts, vibrating seats and water spray.

Inaugurating the theatre here today, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said: "The 4D theatre will offer shows, including short movies that will be interesting for all age groups."

The theatrical shows, which are integrated with advanced 4D viewing experience, are now available to a visitor for Rs 60.

It will be a new and unique experience for visitors as the theatre will offer various special effects such as neck blast, back vibrator, leg tickler, air blast and facial water spray near the seats.

Assistant curator Tapas Ranjan Das said: "Various short films of 14 minutes to 17 minutes duration such as Alibaba, Jet and Jim, Deep Sea Adventure, Rexy, Horror, Roller Cluster, Haunted Raceway and Earth Polar will be screened at the theatre. It will have the effects of wind, smoke, fog, aroma, bubbles and even snow during the screening."

The 48-seat capacity 4D hall has been built for Rs 2.21 crore. "About Rs 1.85 crore was spent on civil work, while the rest was allotted as maintenance cost for three years as part of the agreement with Premier World that has built the theatre," Das said.

According to museum guidelines, children below the age of eight years, persons with cardiac problem and pregnant ladies, are prohibited from entering the 4D hall. Those who will come to watch the show will have to wear special spectacles, which will be available for a refundable security deposit of Rs 50.

A museum official hoped that the 4D viewing facility equipped with powerful surround system with special effects and an air-conditioned fish aquarium would offer visitors a complete entertainment package. The aquarium has more than 100 species of fish collected from across the world.

It has a variety of exotic and marine creatures, including the world's largest fresh water fish, arapima gigas, red tail catfish of South America, deadly black piranhas, frontosa cichlid from Lake Tanganyika in Africa and a number of aquatic species of Odisha.

The Odisha Maritime Museum was converted from a navigational workshop set up by the British in 1868 at Jobra. The Indian National Trust for Art and Culture restored and converted the workshop into a maritime museum. It was inaugurated in 2013. Visitors can get a glimpse of old tools, boats and other machineries used by sailors at the museum. Focusing on the maritime past of Odisha, it provides various audio-visual means to throw more light on the exhibits.