The Tripura Government has approved a
budget of Rs 6.38 crore to accelerate the retrofitting efforts on the historic
Maharaja Birendra Kishore Manikya State Museum and Cultural Centre, stated an
official announcement.
Constructed in 1917 as the Pushpabant
Palace by Maharaja Birendra Kishore Manikya, the building was transformed into
a museum last year by the State Government. Approximately 30 per cent of the
retrofitting work on this century-old heritage structure has been completed,
with the remainder expected to finish by the next year.
The Pushpabant Palace holds historical
significance, as Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, with close ties to the
Tripura royal family, stayed in the palace in 1926.
Uttam Paul, the executive engineer of
the Tourism Department, stated, “The Tripura State Disaster Management
Authority-TSDMA has sanctioned Rs 6.38 crore to undertake retrofitting works on
Maharaja Birendra Kishore Manikya State Museum and Cultural Centre under the State
Disaster Mitigation Fund.”
Due to the building’s fragility, major
retrofitting is deemed necessary for its preservation. The Raj Bhavan,
previously housed in the Pushpabant Palace, was relocated to a more secure
location.
Paul explained that the unique materials
used in the building have contributed to the slow pace of the retrofitting
work, estimating one more year for completion.
Earlier, the State Government had
allocated Rs 40.13 crore for the overall development of the heritage structure
of Maharaja Birendra Kishore Manikya Museum and Cultural Centre. The planned
digital museum, under the guidance of the National Council of Science Museums,
aims to showcase the rich heritage of Northeastern States, fine arts from
Southeast Asia, contemporary photography, and both national and international
archives.
“After the retrofitting works are done,
it will take only six months to turn the heritage structure into a digital
museum,” added Paul, highlighting the potential transformation awaiting the
century-old cultural landmark.
