Nagpur's Historic Ajab Bangla Museum Set for Major ₹60 Crore Revamp
The Maharashtra government has approved a significant ₹60.18 crore project for the long-awaited upgrade of Nagpur's central museum, popularly known as Ajab Bangla. This historic institution, one of the city's oldest, will undergo comprehensive restoration and modernization to enhance its preservation and visitor experience.
Funding Breakdown for Museum Restoration
The administrative sanction covers structural conservation, internal refurbishment, and improvements to visitor facilities at this heritage building. The museum houses important archaeological and natural history collections from the Vidarbha region and surrounding areas.
Of the total ₹60.18 crore, ₹35.29 crore is specifically allocated for conservation and development works. This includes two main components:
- First Component (₹20.34 crore): Focuses on essential structural repairs such as roof restoration and strengthening, stone conservation including plinth protection, reconstruction of compound walls and covered sheds, flooring and surface finishing, waterproofing, anti-termite treatment, and protective coatings, along with pre-construction cleaning.
- Second Component (₹14.95 crore): Targets internal and site-level enhancements, including furniture and surface finishes, new panels and accessories, infographic and digital display systems, basic electrical installations, water supply and drainage systems, landscaping, visitor amenities, toilet repairs, and staff facilities.
Additional Costs and Project Management
An additional ₹15.70 crore is set aside for taxes and related charges, covering electrification and illumination, fire-fighting systems, HVAC and security installations, contingencies, testing and quality control, royalty fees, labour insurance, architectural consultancy, and escalation costs. Goods and Services Tax (GST) at 18%, amounting to ₹9.18 crore, brings the total project cost to ₹60.18 crore.
The Director of Archaeology and Museums, Maharashtra, has been designated as the controlling officer for this project. All works will be executed according to museology standards under the supervision of the directorate and the concerned curator.
The expenditure will be funded from the tourism and cultural affairs department's budget provision for the redevelopment and development of state museums. This initiative aims to preserve Nagpur's cultural heritage while modernizing the museum for future generations.
