ne of the major attractions of the city on the Beach Road that will get renovated besides getting new artefacts for the International Fleet Review scheduled for February will be the Visakha Museum.
Set to be taken up with a total cost of about Rs.1 crore, the Maritime Museum in the 18th century Dutch building that is part of the museum will be the cynosure of all eyes.
To begin with, new arch will be erected, gates replaced and the small alley leading to the museum will be refurbished with paving and ornamental lighting.
The ceiling of the corridor of the Maritime Museum will be redone with an appropriate theme reflecting the sea and boats. Old photographs will be replaced with new ones and lighting. Inside the museum, the roof will be repaired and RCC beams given a wooden-ceiling-like look. New artefacts will be added replacing models of ships presently in the museum. New glass panels will be provided for artefacts and steel railings will also be set up to keep visitors at a distance.
The other two-storeyed block, housing the archaeology and heritage sections, will also be taken up for major re-do. To improve the ambience, the open lighting will be replaced with concealed lighting in a two-foot border on the ceiling. The lighting in the cup boards will also be changed into concealed with focus on the artefacts. Including energy consciousness into the whole exercise, the entire lighting will be converted into LED, say sources.
Closed for renovation
The museum has been closed since October 26 to enable taking up of the works and tenders for the two blocks called for with a total cost of Rs. 80 lakh. It includes repairs to buildings, paintings and electrification. While the civil works will be taken up by GVMC, the Navy's contribution will be in the form of improving the content in the maritime museum. In the long run, GVMC also intends to take up restoration of collection of paintings gifted by noted artist Abburi Gopalakrishna and the collection of writer Adavi Bapiraju in coordination with INTACH, other taxidermy items, armoury etc.
Renovation work of the museum is being taken up at a total
cost of Rs. 1crore
