It is possibly the biggest cement concrete dome of India in making. 57 meter globe shaped ‘Planet earth pavilion’ is under construction in Ahmedabad’s Science City. Construction,designing and set-up of India’s possibly best science exhibit on ‘planet earth’ will continue for at least one more year from now.The Pavilion is being constructed over an area of 9000 sq.m hexagonal grid pattern.

The Planet Earth will depict the live experiences of various natural disasters, disaster management with various interactive exhibits and activities. The main section of the Planet Earth pavilion includes the celestial trio (Sun, earth and moon), the dynamic Earth, resources of the Earth, the Planet Ocean, water, the fountain of life, the Atmosphere, and children activity area.

Inside the dome Dynamic Earth Section there is a provision of Earthquake Demonstration corner. An earthquake platform on a hydraulic simulator, suitable for 15-20 visitors, giving a life-like experience of random tremors of earthquakes. A video projection will indicate the intensity in Richter scale, the location of the epicenter, secondary tremors and destruction caused by the earthquake.

The Resources of Earth Section will take the visitors to the interior of the earth – a simulated elevator ride to the deep interior of the earth – taking visitors to a faithfully recreated underground coal mine, showing coal seams, long-wall and short-wall coal cutting, gathering and transportation, mine supports, sand stowing, De-watering, and safety devices. There are also surrounding exhibits on petroleum, Geo-thermal energy, nuclear power plant, and collective display of gems, minerals, corals, pearls, sea nodules, and planktuns.

The section on Atmosphere will be furnished with animated exhibit showing earth’s atmosphere displaying various layers, their heights, composition and the way these layers are beneficial to us, the chemistry of air and its related experimentation.

The ground braking ceremony of this pavilion was performed by Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat on 29th October 2004.

The Asian Development Bank has providing the financial assistance of Rs. 15 crore through the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA) for the development of the above pavilion. Total coast of the project will be around Rs. 26 crore. Tata consultancy has designed the construction part while scientist Saroj Ghosh has conceptualized and designed the exhibits.