Though the first two rows of seats were changed, the problem continued for viewers in getting a 360-degree view of the 3D presentation at the Swami Vivekananda Planetarium at the Dr. K. Shivaram Karanth Pilikula Nisargadhama, which was formally inaugurated here on Thursday.
“Yes, I faced the problem. I did have strain in my neck,” M.R. Seetharam, Minister for Science and Technology, who inaugurated the planetarium and was among the many who witnessed the inaugural 30-minute show that included 10 minutes of 3D presentation.
“The seats in the first two rows have been changed. I have asked officials to make changes in the remaining seats too,” he told presspersons.
He said that necessary alterations in the seats will be made to provide a comfortable viewing experience for people by April.
The planetarium, said to be the country’s first to have a 3D 8K digital and opto-mechanical (hybrid) projection system, was constructed at a cost of ₹ 36 crore.
Mr. Seetharam said that the planetarium with an 18-m dome was far advanced to the 2D hybrid Jawarharlal Nehru Planetarium in Bengaluru.
Mr. Seetharam said that the government intends to have a 3D instead of a 2D planetarium in Hubballi, which is under construction.
The government has also proposed to construct a planetarium in Belagavi.
Mr. Seetharam said that the government will launch mobile planetariums in 12 districts in the next few days. Problems for viewers in the 170-seat planetarium was noticed during the show organised for journalists on February 24 itself.
Deputy Commissioner S. Sasikanth Senthil, who is chairman of the Nisargadhama, had termed the problem as a minor issue and had promised to corrective action at the time of the inauguration.
At the start of the inaugural show, the organisers announced that they have made changes in the seats in the first two rows.
The show started with a 2D show giving a glimpse of night sky on the full dome. There was also a screening of documentaries on nature and wildlife.
The last 10 minutes had a 3D show, “My stars”.
Shows at the planetarium will be open for the public from Friday.
There would be six shows daily. The entry fee would be ₹ 60 for adults and ₹ 25 for children.
