CM inaugurates Odisha’s 2nd planetarium in Sambalpur

Sambalpur: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the second planetarium of Odisha, named after APJ Abdul Kalam in Sambalpur today.

The planetarium, constructed by the Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) at a cost of Rs 5.60 crore, has a capacity of 170 to 180 visitors. The planetarium has been set up to create awareness on solar science and astrology among the students of Western Odisha.

School and Mass Education Minister, Badri Narayan Patra said this is the first planetarium in western Odisha and second in the state after Pathani Samanta Planetarium in Bhubaneswar.

“Students of western Odisha will be benefited by the facility. Earlier they used to only read about the solar system, galaxies and the universe. Now they will get a practical view of the same,” Patra said.

The Minister further informed that three more planetariums will come up in the state, one each at Baripada, Gopalpur and Rayagada, to popularize science and technology among students and the discerning.

Apart from the planetarium, the Chief Minister laid foundation stones and inaugurated various developmental projects in Sambalpur, including a science park, city bus services and a swimming pool.

Meanwhile, BJP activists staged a rally protesting preventive custody of party’s senior leader and former MLA Jaynarayan Mishra prior to the CM’s visit.