IN a disappointment for art enthusiasts in the city, the Air India (AI) museum is unlikely to be thrown open to the public by early next year. Facing a delay in arranging funds for setting up the museum, officials claimed that it would require at least six months for the work to be completed once it begins. In August, former Air India chairman and managing director Ashwani Lohani had said that the museum would be inaugurated by February next year. The museum has been assured of a funding of Rs 5.6 crore by the Department of Culture. “Several issues need to be resolved before we can comment on an exact date when we can begin construction of the museum. Though there has been an in-principle approval of the funding to be received from the Culture department, we are yet to receive it,” a senior Air India official said. The museum, expected to come up on the first floor of the airline building at Nariman Point in south Mumbai, will showcase works of renowned artists and other artworks. Officials have said that they have been able to collect at least 10,000 artefacts. “Many formalities are yet to be completed to receive the sanctioned fund. There are many questions being asked about the sanction requirement and the airline is undergoing the process of answering the same. We cannot give a deadline of when exactly the same can be completed,” Meenakshi Dua, Enforcement Director, Northern region, Air India said. Along with the Department of Culture, the airline would support the museum with a funding of Rs 1.4 crore. Officials said discussions with other stakeholders, to help the museum with the required funds, are on. “We have met a lot of people interested in funding the museum. Among them, many researchers and art enthusiasts are ready to donate funds. Once we have arranged for funds from one source, we will approach the others for sure,” Dua added. Officials hinted that an uncertainty about the fate of museum in the wake of divestment of the airline is also cropping up. “The scenario about how the museum will pan out in the wake of divestment of the airline remains unclear. However, we are sure on opening this museum at the earliest for art lovers,” Dua added. Officials said that while the setting up of the museum, which includes finalising interiors and furniture design, would take at least four-five months, it may take another month to set up the artefacts. The officials hope to start the actual work on setting up the museum by January next year.
