After getting entangled in a heritage zone row, redemption seems to be in sight for the A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Knowledge Centre and Space Museum project with the State Cabinet giving the go-ahead for the transfer of land on Wednesday.
The facility, which will be jointly run by Indian Space Research Organisation’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) and the State government, is planned on 1.3 acres of land close to the Kowdiar Palace.
For establishing a memorial to the former President, often described as the ‘Missile Man of India,’ the State government had transferred 1.75 acres to the VSSC some years ago. But the project did not take off. The initial design for a five-storey complex plus basement space ran afoul of the Heritage Committee in 2019, putting the approximately ₹60 crore project in limbo. The panel argued that the design violated heritage zone regulations.
