Ludhiana: Nehru Planetarium closed due to lack of technical expert. Ludhiana News – Times of India

Ludhiana: Adjacent to Nehru Planetarium rose Garden The civic body is crying out for the attention of the authorities. It has been non-operational in the absence of a technical expert who can run it. But civic officials claim that they plan to upgrade the planetarium before opening it to the public for a better experience.
It is the only planetarium in the city and was opened after renovation and upgradation on January 4, 2017, ahead of the then assembly elections. More than two years have passed since the planetarium was closed to the public. Officials claimed that they could not open it without technical staff who know how to operate the equipment. The planetarium remained closed even during the pandemic.
The last upgrade was done at a cost of over Rs 55 lakh. The officials had claimed that people would be able to get useful information about astronomy through short films. MC had purchased an upgraded projector from USA for Rs 50 lakh and Rs 5 lakh was spent on other renovation and repair works.
Sources said that initially the plan was to hand over the planetarium to a private company for operation and maintenance. But the plan did not mature and officials are thinking of another renovation before reopening it.
“After the renovation, we will hire a technician to run the planetarium,” a senior official said.
Jatinder Singh, Resident Chander NagarSaid, “There are very few places in the city to take our kids for educative entertainment. There was a time when we had a proper zoo in the Rose Garden, but slowly everything is either closing or this being non-functional like a planetarium.”
Inderpreet Singh, Resident BRS NagarSaid, “Kapurthala has a science town where children get to learn a lot, but here the civic body has failed to maintain a small planetarium. More facilities should be added to this facility and given to residents on special occasions.” An opportunity to experience celestial phenomena like eclipses.” The planetarium was inaugurated in 1987. It has a seating capacity of 80 people. For students, admission is free and MC charges Rs 10 from others.