Stalled Regional Science Centre project in Ambala set to resume soon

The long-delayed Regional Science Centre project in Ambala is expected to resume soon, with authorities preparing to award a fresh tender for the balance work within this month, officials said.

The project, launched in 2019, has seen only 25% of the work completed so far. Initially slated for completion within three years, the ambitious science hub came to a standstill in 2022 due to construction deficiencies, legal disputes and arbitration proceedings between the original contractor and the Public Works Department (Buildings & Roads).

“Around 25 per cent work was completed and the project came to a standstill in 2022. After the agreement of the previous firm was terminated, a fresh tender for the balance work of Rs 11.50 crore was floated. The tender has been opened and it will be allotted to the new agency in 15 days. The agency will get a period of 18 months to complete the work,” a senior official from the PWD (B&R) said.

The five-acre facility, located along National Highway-44, was envisioned as a centre of excellence in science education and innovation, built through a collaboration between the National Council of Science Museums and the Haryana Science and Technology Department. The overall project budget is pegged at around Rs 36 crore, including civil, electrical and allied works.

The proposed science centre will house cutting-edge facilities, including planetarium, science park and thematic galleries, innovation hub and exhibit development lab, 270-degree immersive projection hall and science-on-sphere show, flight simulator and virtual reality theatre.

These features are to be developed in-house using Indian expertise, making it the first of its kind in the region.

Responding to a query, the PWD official confirmed that structural inconsistencies had surfaced during earlier phases of construction.

“Some deficiencies were observed, following which a structural audit was done. The structure was found to be safe, but it was not as per the drawing of the project and specifications. As recommended by the experts, while some rectifications were done by the previous agency, the remaining will be carried out under the new tender at the cost of the previous firm,” the official added.

The tender for the electrical works has already been awarded and will run concurrently with the civil works once construction resumes.

Haryana Tribune