Vijayawada: In a significant boost to the city’s tourism sector, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) inaugurated the long-awaited planetarium at Gandhi Hill. Built with state-of-the-art technology, the planetarium was revamped at a cost of approximately ₹60 lakh.
The planetarium, which once served as the highlight of Gandhi Hill, boasts a rich history of having entertained and educated visitors for decades under the management of the Gandhi Hill development society.However, it remained non-operational for the past 10 years, with its equipment left unused.
Recently, the VMC took over from the management of Gandhi Hill and embarked on a comprehensive redevelopment project to revive major tourist attractions on the hill. The renovated planetarium now features a modern digital projector and seating capacity for 69 visitors, offering an enhanced experience to the public.
It was reported that shows will be conducted daily from 4 pm to 7 pm in Telugu, Hindi, and English languages. Each show will be 30 minute long.
VMC estate officer P Srinivas stated that the planetarium was upgraded to match the standards of renowned planetariums across India. The aim was to spark interest of people, especially school children, in space science.
The ticket fares for the shows have been set at 40 per person. Meanwhile, schools can avail tickets at discount of 20 per child in case of bulk bookings.
It is noted that the planetarium was formally inaugurated by local MLA Sujana Chaudhary. It will be open to the public from this Wednesday. Officials were hopeful that the planetarium would not only attract tourists but also serve as an educational hub for young minds that are fascinated by the mysteries of space.
The planetarium, which once served as the highlight of Gandhi Hill, boasts a rich history of having entertained and educated visitors for decades under the management of the Gandhi Hill development society.However, it remained non-operational for the past 10 years, with its equipment left unused.
Recently, the VMC took over from the management of Gandhi Hill and embarked on a comprehensive redevelopment project to revive major tourist attractions on the hill. The renovated planetarium now features a modern digital projector and seating capacity for 69 visitors, offering an enhanced experience to the public.
It was reported that shows will be conducted daily from 4 pm to 7 pm in Telugu, Hindi, and English languages. Each show will be 30 minute long.
VMC estate officer P Srinivas stated that the planetarium was upgraded to match the standards of renowned planetariums across India. The aim was to spark interest of people, especially school children, in space science.
The ticket fares for the shows have been set at 40 per person. Meanwhile, schools can avail tickets at discount of 20 per child in case of bulk bookings.
It is noted that the planetarium was formally inaugurated by local MLA Sujana Chaudhary. It will be open to the public from this Wednesday. Officials were hopeful that the planetarium would not only attract tourists but also serve as an educational hub for young minds that are fascinated by the mysteries of space.
