Thiruvananthapuram: The foundation stone for the knowledge centre and science museum in memory of former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam will be laid at Kawdiar soon. The LDF government has sanctioned 1.75 acres for the knowledge centre being set up with the help of the Indian Space Research Organisation.
The projects will come up next to the Income Tax Commissionerate on the Kawdiar main road. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and ISRO chairman K. Sivan were scheduled to lay the foundation stone on September 12, but the date has been extended in view of Mr Pinarayi Vijayan’s treatment in the US.
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre director S. Somanath told DC that the foundation stone will be laid after October 10.
“We are liaising with the CM’s office for a convenient date. ISRO chairman will be available only after October 10. The estimates for the two projects are being prepared and the architecture designs have been finalised,” he said.
Mr M. C. Dathan, scientific adviser to the chief minister, said that the foundation stone will be laid depending on the convenience of the CM and ISRO chairman. “The state government will provide 1.75 acres of land on lease to the ISRO,” he said.
The space museum at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre at Thumpa is open on all days except Sundays and declared holidays. But it is difficult to reach there and hence the ISRO and the government decided to have a science museum along with the knowledge centre at Kawdiar.
