A visitor at the Jobra Maritime Museum in Cuttack. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, March 30: Visitors will have to wait a bit longer for the opening of the much-awaited aquarium project at Jobra Maritime Museum here.

The project, which was supposed to be opened for the public in January, failed to meet the deadline because of technical problems. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik had laid the foundation stone for the project on April 1 last year.

Sources said that though most of the work was over, it could not be inaugurated due to enforcement of the model code of conduct for the upcoming general elections.

“Installation of a water treatment plant, centralised air conditioners and procurement of marine fishes is complete. We are contemplating to inaugurate the aquarium after the elections in May,” said Indian National Trust for Art and Culture (Intach) director Malika Mitra.

Director of the Jobra Maritime Museum, Basudev Mohapatra, said the project would be among the major attractions at the museum, which has already been visited by more than 90,000 people since its inauguration in April last year.

Over 12 species of marine creatures, including fresh and saline water fishes, would be kept inside the aquariums, while a special open pond has been created with a number of fishes imported from Japan.

Sources said the aquarium had been set up over nearly 3,000sqft with around 50,000 litres of water. Stingray, red tail catfish and Arapima Gigas would be present in the aquarium.

Besides, there will be four special aquariums showcasing marine species such as mud skipper, lion fish, chana punctatus, toad fish and puffer fish.

The first nature aquarium exhibiting an underwater scene of temple architecture would be another added attraction at the special aquarium gallery.

Sources said a visitor would have to pay Rs 30 to enter the aquarium gallery.

The maritime museum, which was a navigational workshop set up by the British in 1868, has 10 galleries. The workshop has now been converted into a museum after the foundation stone was laid in 2007. Intach had carried out the restoration and conversion of the workshop into a museum at a cost of Rs 10 crore.

Various machines, boats that were earlier used at the workshop have been displayed at the museum.

Besides, the visitors can also get a glimpse of various tools and the rich ancient maritime history of Odisha at the museum.