Bhubaneswar Planetarium closed for a month, shows halted due to technical glitch
Odisha: The Pathani Samanta Planetarium in Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha, has been closed for over a month, leaving school and college students disappointed during their summer vacation. A large number of students and tourists visited the show, but the planetarium’s closure has left them unable to see the exhibits.
Before the closure, astronomical shows in Odia, Hindi, and English were held daily from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., which were very popular among students. These shows presented information related to science and space in a simple manner, making it an important educational destination.
A notice posted by officials outside the planetarium states that all shows have been temporarily suspended due to a technical problem. However, staff members say they have no clear information about when services will resume. According to sources, the shows have been suspended since April 21st, but no concrete progress has been made toward repairs and technical improvements.
Visitors and parents allege that the planetarium has long suffered from technical glitches, but they haven’t been addressed in a timely manner. They say that repairs often remain pending for months due to equipment failures, disrupting services. This situation has raised questions about the planetarium’s functioning.
Meanwhile, Planetarium Director Urmiprabha Maharana has reported that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed for the facility’s upgrade. She added that a technical team has already inspected the site to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for the renovation work.
According to the director, the DPR is expected to be ready by next month, after which the repair and modernization work will proceed. However, no specific date has been given for when services will be restored.
Students visiting the planetarium on educational tours have been most affected by the planetarium’s closure. This place is considered a major center for fostering interest in science during the summer holidays, but in the current situation, it is not able to benefit from this.
Local residents and teachers have demanded that the repair work be expedited so that the students’ academic activities are not affected and the planetarium can reopen as soon as possible.
