Rs 100-cr science city project for Hyderabad

Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh State Council of Science and Technology, an autonomous body under the State government, has submitted a proposal to set up a Rs 100-crore science city on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

While the State government is to share Rs 40 crore, the Centre is likely to bear the rest of the cost. “The Centre is considering the proposal and we hope to get the approval soon. We already have a 20-acre plot for the project,” Y. Nagesh Kumar, Member Secretary, told media persons on the sidelines of a CII meeting with Innovation Norway delegation here today.

The council was floated by the State government in 1986 to formulate measures to foster the spirit of science at all levels of society, especially among students, teachers and academicians, apart from transferring new technologies from the laboratories to the field.

The proposed Science City would house interactive exhibits on various topics of science, ranging from astronomy to biology, a planetarium and galleries.

It has also planned a Centre for Creativity within the science city, which will be a facilitator for innovators, including research scholars and teachers. “This centre would cost about $ 50 million. We are in talks with Innovation Norway to participate in the setting up of the centre,” Kumar said.

The council is setting up the second Regional Science Centre at Warangal, after the one in Vijayawada. “The Warangal facility being set up at a cost of Rs 5 crore is expected to be ready next month. It will house science exhibits that will explain science in pictorial forms to the youth,” he said, adding that there were proposals to set up a sub-regional science centre at Rajahmundry at a cost of Rs 5 crore.

Earlier, a delegation from Innovation Norway, which funds and facilitates research in innovative technologies, interacted with industrialists, scienctists and entrepreneurs.

Ole Johan Sandvaer, Regional Director, said Innovation Norway was present in 35 countries, including India. “We are increasing focus on India. We will be opening our second Indian office in Mumbai in the first quarter of next year,” he said.