Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay inaugurated the Rs 301-crore Periyar Arivulagam at Gandhipuram in Coimbatore on Friday, opening an eight-storey public facility that combines a library, science centre, planetarium, STEM laboratory and spaces for entrepreneurship and accessible reading.
The facility has a built-up area of 1,98,000 sq ft and is equipped with modern technological amenities, according to a report by the Times of India. Its library holds more than 80,000 books and includes digital-library facilities, expanding the centre’s offering beyond conventional reading rooms.
The project also includes a planetarium and a STEM Lab. A dedicated floor provides reading space for differently abled users, while an incubation centre has been established for micro, small and medium enterprises. The mix of public learning, science education, accessibility and enterprise support gives the building multiple civic functions within a single urban facility.
The Periyar Library and Science Centre was initially scheduled to be inaugurated in February this year, but the ceremony was postponed because of construction delays. The foundation stone had been laid by former Chief Minister MK Stalin, and the project was described in the report as one of the significant initiatives undertaken during the DMK period.
The facility’s opening adds a large public-use institution to Gandhipuram, a major urban area in Coimbatore. Its design and programme bring together cultural infrastructure, educational amenities and technology-enabled services, although the report did not provide details on operating hours, staffing, annual visitor capacity or the agency responsible for day-to-day management.
During the event, the chief minister also inaugurated 89 completed projects implemented at a cost of Rs 408.25 crore. Foundation stones were laid for 144 new projects estimated at Rs 32.32 crore, while welfare assistance worth Rs 34.72 crore was distributed to 9,343 beneficiaries.
The inauguration marks the formal opening of the Periyar Arivulagam after the construction-related delay. Further operational details for the library, science centre, planetarium, STEM Lab and MSME incubation centre were not specified in the report.
