Erode Corporation extends STEM park’s maintenance contract for a year

Erode Corporation has extended the contractor’s licence to operate and maintain the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) park at Sree Garden in Surampatti for another year. The civic body has also increased its revenue share from the park from 15% to 25%.

Under the Smart Cities Mission, Ankidyne, a manufacturer and installer of science park exhibits, began work to establish the park in 2021 and completed it in August, 2022. The park, established at a cost of ₹9.50 crore covering 48,900 sq. ft. features science and mathematics gadgets, evolution gadgets, science sphere, an indoor gallery, an observatory dome with a telescope and a space zone. The fully air-conditioned digital planetarium has a 360-degree dome with a high-end projection system to screen videos on various astronomical and expedition topics. Additionally, there is a play zone for children.

Efforts by the civic body to handover the operation and maintenance of the park to individuals or private companies were unsuccessful, as none participated in the public auction or tenders floated four times in 2023. Therefore, following the practice of other Corporations where the building contractor for the project is asked to operate and maintain the park, the civic body handed over the maintenance to Ankidyne from October 2023 to September 2024.

The park is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and an entry fee of ₹10 for children aged 8 and 15, and ₹20 for those over 15 is fixed. The fees apply for using trampoline and sky watching equipment. The park has received a positive response from the public and generated a revenue of ₹22.94 lakh, of which the civic body’s 15% share amounts to ₹3.33 lakh. Since the contract period has ended, the contractor expressed a willingness to operate the park for one more year and submitted a letter to the civic body on October 4, 2024.

A senior engineer told The Hindu the Corporation would incur ₹16.04 lakh annually to operate and maintain the park if it took over from the contractor. Since the contractor had maintained the park well, it was decided to extend the contractor’s licence for one more year with two conditions. “The civic body’s revenue share should be increased from 15% to 25% and a 50% concession should be given on the fee for students from government and Corporation schools,” he said.

Published - November 28, 2024 06:48 pm IST