India’s government has approved the development of the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum in New Delhi, a $340 million (about €306 million) project billed as having the world’s largest museum display area. The decision was reported on Thursday as authorities in Himachal Pradesh investigated the second paragliding death in less than a month and Delhi’s skyline was again shrouded in smog.
Key Takeaways: The museum is planned to cover nearly 178,509 square meters and welcome about 10 million visitors a year, with final completion targeted for 2030/31. A 26-year-old tourist from Noida died after falling from a tandem paraglider in Bir Billing on Tuesday; police have registered a negligence case against the pilot. Delhi’s air-quality problems persisted, with the capital once again covered by a gray haze.
First announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023, the museum’s Sanskrit name translates to “India through the ages.” The project will reuse the century-old North and South Blocks in New Delhi’s Raisina Hills, colonial-era buildings that once housed government offices, including Modi’s own, before they were vacated over the past year as part of a redesign of India’s political hub. Modi’s government has long sought to emphasize India’s pre-colonial cultural identity, making the museum a flagship cultural initiative.
“Buildings that have been centres of governance will now become a place where millions can discover, experience and celebrate the timeless richness of our civilisation,” Modi wrote on X on Wednesday night. He called the museum a “magnificent celebration” of India’s “civilizational journey,” saying its galleries will bring to life ancient knowledge systems, mathematics, astronomy, architecture, art, languages and spirituality through immersive experiences. According to a cabinet press release, the museum will encompass nearly 178,509 square meters and have the capacity to welcome some 10 million visitors a year. The finalization is planned for 2030/31, but the first gallery, themed “adornment,” will open next year, with more galleries to follow. Content and collection analysis is underway, with about 1.8 million objects identified for possible display from national and state museums, archaeological and private collections.
The paragliding accident occurred on Tuesday evening in Bir Billing, known as India’s paragliding capital, in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. PTI cited police as saying the 26-year-old man from Noida, Uttar Pradesh, was on a tandem flight with a local pilot and fell just six minutes after take-off. Police registered a case of death due to negligence against the pilot and said a further probe was underway. On October 25, a 47-year-old Bulgarian national was killed in a paraglider crash near Rising Star Peak in Dharamshala. The incidents have raised concerns over the safety of commercial adventure-tourism ventures in the popular mountainous destination.
Delhi’s smog woes also continued, with the capital’s skyline again covered in a gray haze. Authorities are expected to face continued pressure to announce fresh air-quality measures, while the museum project moves into collection analysis and phased gallery openings. The coming months will show whether safety oversight in Himachal Pradesh and environmental management in Delhi can keep pace with India’s broader cultural and tourism ambitions.
Source: www.dw.com