Mangaluru: The Swami Vivekananda 3D Planetarium at Dr. Shivaram Karanth Biological Park in Pilikula, will be opened by February 2018.

M R Seetharam, State Minister for Planning, Statistics, Science and Technology, after laying the foundation stone for the concrete road from Vamanjoor to Dr. Shivaram Karanth Biological Park, costing Rs 5 Crore, said, “This planetarium is India’s first and the world’s 21st 3D planetarium and will be built at a cost of Rs 36 Crore.”

“About 80 percent of the work has already been completed. The establishment of a Pilikula Regional Science Centre Authority will be tabled for approval by the cabinet very soon. The purpose of the authority will be the development of the Dr. Shivaram Karanth Biological Park and the Swami Vivekananda 3D Planetarium,” he added.

On the staff recruitment for the planetarium, the minister said, “We have received 72 applications in this regard.”

He also said that the government had sanctioned Rs 2 crores for the development of the interior roads leading towards the park.

Abhijith, CEO of Infovisions Technologies Private Limited, said, “This is also the first hybrid 3D planetarium. This planetarium will have additional new generational opto-mechanical systems and is being constructed with India’s first “Nano Seam” dome.

Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation, USA has taken up the installation of instruments and equipment for the first 3D active digital hybrid planetarium in India, through Infovision Technologies .

MLA J R Lobo, Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil, ADC Kumar and others were present.