Science City's time machine to be replaced by new version
Kolkata: 'Time machine' one of the prime attractions in the Science City that has been closed for maintenance since April 2018 will be soon replaced with a newer version. The authorities of Science City will now install two capsule simulators with enhanced viewing experience having 3D effect. The newer version is expected to be unveiled in December .
"The earlier version was projection based but now it will be an LED screen and when you will sit with polarised glass on, the emersive feeling combined with the rolling and pitching effect experienced by you will make you feel an integral part of the entire film that is being screened infront of you," said Subhabrata Chaudhuri, director of Science City, Kolkata.
There will be a sitting capacity of 15 persons in each of the simulator which means 200 people can witness the film screened through the time machine in an hour. 44 lakhs visitors which accounts for 14.2 percent of the total visitors in the Science City have enjoyed the earlier version of the Time Machine clearly indicating its huge popularity.
"We have been carrying out maintenance of the old version on our own since 2000 as the manufacturing company suddenly refused to do servicing of the machine three years after its installation in 1997. We realised that it was becoming a risky affair maintaining the machine on our own. So we decided to close it down and switch over to a much more advanced version – the Doron precision system based at New York ," Chaudhuri said. Each of the two simulators is priced at Rs 2.8 crore.
An inspection team from Science City will visit New York in mid August and will take lessons on maintenance and other nitty gritty about the operation of the machine. It is expected to shift from its manufacturing base by mid September and is expected to reach the city in six weeks . "We will be holding test run for nearly two months before unveiling it for visitors preferably by December," he added.
The Science City hadlaunched the first of its kind 3D Space Theatre in January this year. The authorities hope to end the year offering another gift for Kolkatans.
