Nine years and an expenditure of ₹ 20.08 crore later, the government was unable to open the space theater at the Kerala Science City in Kottayam and the planetarium building at the Regional Science Center in Chalakudy.
According to the latest report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the period ending March 2023, the construction of both structures remains incomplete.
The report is scathing for the Kerala State Science and Technology Museum (KSSTM), an autonomous institution under the Govt. Lack of coordination in execution of works and absence of effective monitoring led to “wasteful expenditure of ₹15.03 crore on two buildings and idle investment of ₹5.05 crore on equipment,” the report said.
An administrative sanction of ₹28 crore was given for these two projects. Habitat Technology Group was the architectural and structural consultant for the space theater and responsible for the construction of the planetarium.
The structure of the space theater, which consists of a planetarium and a space gallery, could not be completed because the microconcreting on the edge of the lid (protects the exposed part of the building from the elements) could not be done. The alternative material proposal was not approved. There were also other technical problems. In 2018 to 2019, there was no progress in the works. It was also found that despite the stoppage of construction, KSSTM proceeded to procure the projection dome at a cost of ₹1.87 crore.
An audit in June 2022 revealed that the contractor does not have sufficient experience with microconcreting. In February 2023, dome assembly; installation of planetarium equipment including projectors, interior, everything was before completion.
In the planetarium building at Chalakudy, the audit found that the completion date was extended several times due to design change, change of dome design from horizontal to inclined and delay in KSSTM approval for revised design. After concreting, the dome structure was to be plastered with cement mortar. However, waterproofing was done before plastering. In 2019, significant water seepage occurred through the structural joints of the dome. The acoustic paneling that was awarded to Habitat was outsourced to another agency, incurring an additional expenditure of ₹ 5.24 lakh. Although plastering of the dome was done in October 2020 (three years after the handover of the site) and the construction of the building was reported as completed in 2021, the dome leaked during the rains that year and could not be opened. Soundproofing materials inside the planetarium were damaged due to seepage, and imported equipment such as the tilted dome and projector were unused.
The audit report urged the government to hold officials responsible for the negligence and take steps to commission the projects.
The issue was brought to the government’s attention in July last year and reminders were sent in September, but no response was forthcoming, the report said.
When contacted, KSSTM Director P. Suresh Kumar said that the Science City in Kottayam has been opened to the public. Only the planetarium remained open. The case related to the equipment of the planetarium was heard by the Supreme Court. Once the court ruled on the matter, KSSTM could continue with the work. The government was also aware of the dome leak at the Chalakudy Planetarium. Actions have been taken to resolve the issue. A meeting will be held soon in this regard.
Published – 18 Oct 2025 19:09 IST
