3D shows for maritime museum

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu maritime heritage museum, coming up at Mamallapuram, near here, will have 3D shows in the auditorium to give a real-life feeling to visitors, especially children.

Simulators for submarines, depiction of the maritime history of the state from the Sangam era till the end of the 20th century, are also planned at the museum in which the decommissioned INS Vagli submarine will be the centrepiece of attraction.

The themes for display was proposed by R. Kannan, principal secretary of tourism. He said each era would be depicted separately and in the modern era, from 1900 AD onwards, there would be sub-sections for each type of technology like papyrus ships, palmyrah ships, steam ships, wooden ships, steel, diesel ships, buoys communications, lighthouses, etc.

Chairing the first working committee meeting after obtaining the CRZ clearance for towing and hauling INS Vagli at Mamallapuram, here on Wednesday, Kannan discussed the collection of artefacts, designs, displays, sound and light music, signages, etc., required for the museum.

Hemant Kumar Sinha, principal secretary/managing director of TTDC, Limatoshi, general manager (eco-tourism wing) of TTDC, P.R. Sampath, commissioner of museum, Chennai, Commodore Amar K. Mahadevan, Naval Officer In-charge, Indian Navy, and Captain Shyam Sundar, CSO, Indian Navy, were among those who participated.

Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa had ordered the setting up of the museum, the first of its kind in the state, and accordingly sanctioned funds for taking up the project.