Hyderabad, June 4 (RAHNUMA): Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla has called upon Central and State Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) to extend support for the modernisation and expansion of the Salar Jung Museum as it prepares to celebrate its Platinum Jubilee year.
Chairing a meeting with representatives of various PSUs at Raj Bhavan on Thursday evening, the Governor, who is also the Chairman of the Salar Jung Museum, discussed plans for the week-long Platinum Jubilee celebrations scheduled to be held from June 14 to 21.
The meeting was attended by Special Chief Secretary to the Governor M. Dana Kishore and Joint Secretary Shashikiran Achary.
Addressing the gathering, Shukla said the celebrations, being organised to mark the birth anniversary of Nawab Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, Salar Jung III, would feature special exhibitions, cultural programmes, educational initiatives, publications, outreach activities and public engagement events.
The Governor said the Museum was also preparing a comprehensive development plan to transform it into a modern institution of international standards over the next five years.
He expressed confidence that the Central government would extend support for the initiative and appealed to PSUs to contribute through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes towards the Museum’s modernisation and expansion efforts.
Speaking on the occasion, Special Chief Secretary to the Governor M. Dana Kishore said the State government was undertaking measures for the development and beautification of the Musi riverfront. He noted that plans were being prepared to develop the precincts comprising the Telangana High Court, Salar Jung Museum and Osmania General Hospital as a heritage corridor. In this context, he urged the participating organisations to extend their support for the Museum’s development initiatives.
Responding positively to the Governor’s appeal, representatives of the PSUs assured that they would explore ways to partner in the Museum’s modernisation and expansion programmes.
During the meeting, officials of the Salar Jung Museum made a PowerPoint presentation outlining the institution’s future development roadmap. They informed the gathering that works costing between ₹25 crore and ₹35 crore were proposed over the next five years for upgrading galleries, storage facilities and conservation infrastructure.
The proposed initiatives include gallery enhancement, expansion of educational programmes, modernisation of conservation laboratories, improvement of visitor services and augmentation of public amenities.
The Museum authorities also proposed the establishment of a dedicated Telangana Heritage Wing at an estimated cost of ₹85 crore to showcase the State’s rich historical and cultural legacy.
