Bhubaneswar: Pathani Samanta Planetarium in the capital city here has been closed for visitors for last two weeks due repair and maintenance work.

Many tourists have expressed their displeasure over the planetarium authorities’ alleged failure to complete the maintenance work at the earliest and resume night sky viewing, audio visual programmes and other shows at the facility.

The authorities closed the planetarium for visitors to carry out repair and maintenance work on June 23. They put up a notice in this regard in front of the planetarium.

However, the authorities are yet to provide any information regarding the resumption of shows at the planetarium, sources said.

It is learnt that the authorities have not carried out any major repair and maintenance work at the planetarium since 2012.

“The planetarium authorities are supposed to carry out maintenance work once in every seven years. But, they have not done so since 2012,” said a source.

Sources, meanwhile, claimed that a team of experts have examined the equipment at the planetarium recently but there was no information regarding the resumption of shows for the visitors.

“School children and youngsters usually visit the planetarium to watch various shows. But, the authorities have closed the facility for people for the last two weeks. This has caused resentment among the visitors,” they added.