Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials were on Tuesday questioned by experts over the poor maintenance of the Kempegowda Museum in Mayo Hall.

The experts sought to know from officials how they had utilised the funds since the museum was badly maintained with leaking ceilings, crumbling plaster and also lacked a curator.

When questioned about this, Mayor R Sampath Raj said, “We will utilise the funds to improve the building. We will digitise the museum by installing digital interactive
exhibits and enhance the interiors.

There will also be a display system, display of souvenirs, design and development of a 3D 20-minute audio and video presentation on Kempegowda, increase the stability of the building and also check water leakage.”

The tenders for the project was called twice earlier but were rejected, as only one bidder participated. While the tender for the technical bid has been invited, the financial bid is yet to be called.

 “We will ask people to send any artefacts or old material that they find related to Kempegowda so that we can curate them,” said Raj.

Retired IAS officer Chiranjeevi Singh, who is also an expert, opined that the BBMP should form an expert committee from the archaeology department to digitise the museum. He also suggested setting up a cafeteria to serve food that was popular during Kempegowda’s regime.

A 17th-century copper inscription weighing 973 grams was also displayed at the museum on Tuesday.