Patna Museum restoration to be completed in 6 months: BCD

Patna: The ambitious restoration and modernisation project at the historic Patna Museum is progressing swiftly, with key heritage buildings set to regain their original grandeur while being equipped with contemporary facilities. Officials said the remaining works were likely to be completed within the next six months.

Under the supervision of the building construction department (BCD), the conservation of the century-old heritage structures is being carried out to preserve the authentic architectural features. Traditional materials such as ‘surkhi’ (brick dust mortar) and lime are being used to ensure compatibility with the original construction techniques, preventing any damage to the ancient fabric of the buildings.


Kumar Ravi, secretary, BCD, said the civil construction component of the project is nearing completion, while electrical installations and related internal works are now at an advanced stage. “Special attention is being paid to the installation of exhibits in the restored heritage sections, alongside detailed concept planning for the displays,” he said.

“The project is being executed in phases. The first phase saw the successful construction and inauguration of two striking new galleries—‘Ganga’ and ‘Patali’—within the museum complex. These galleries have already become major attractions among visitors. As part of the project’s expansion, the museum complex now includes additional modern infrastructure such as a 2D theatre, a temporary exhibition hall, museum offices, a conservation laboratory, a 105-seat auditorium, and a state-of-the-art storage repository equipped with advanced technology for preserving artefacts,” Kumar said.

The secretary further said the ongoing second phase centres on the conservation and restoration of the old heritage building.

“Work is progressing rapidly. Special precautions are being taken to avoid any damage to the old structures. Surkhi and lime are being used to maintain authenticity during preservation,” he said, adding that internal works for exhibit installation in the old buildings are underway, along with concept planning for the displays. The remaining works are targeted for completion within the next six months.

Theme-based galleries will be arranged in chronological order as per the history timeline to enhance the display of its artefacts. There are eight galleries on the ground floor and 11 on the first floor.

The ground floor consists of the history gallery, life in jail, and two interactive kids’ galleries, while the first floor has the turning point, company rule-foreign trade in India, and Nepalese bronzes, among others.