Minister inspects site for 300 crore library-cum-science centre in Coimbatore

Coimbatore: Minister for school education Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi on Monday inspected the site allocated for a library-cum-science centre at the central prison grounds in Gandhipuram.The Public Works Department (PWD) has floated tenders for the construction of the library-cum-science centre. The tenders will be opened on October 16, after which the executing agency will be selected, said a PWD official. In February, chief minister MK Stalin had announced that the Muthamizh Arignar Kalaignar Library and Science Centre, proposed in the budget, would be completed by January 2026.The centre, spanning ground plus seven floors with a total area of 1,98,000 sq.ft., will be built at a cost of 300 crore on 6.98 acres of land. Of the total allocation, 245 crore has been earmarked for civil and electrical works, while 50 crore has been allocated for the procurement of books and e-books, and 5 crore for computers, reading accessories, equipment, and IT infrastructure. The building will also include an auditorium with a seating capacity of 300-350, the official added.The centre will feature sections for English and Tamil books, magazines, literary journals, and exhibits on various fields of engineering and science, including astronomy, robotics, virtual reality, and natural science. There will also be a separate section for competitive exam books, a ‘bring your own books' reading area, and a digital library. Science models will also be displayed at the centre, the official added. Earlier on Monday, the minister inaugurated a renovated govt primary school in Pallapalayam, funded by Pricol Ltd through its CSR initiative at a cost of 1.20 crore.
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