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The Chief Minister's Office has initiated efforts to prevent the closure of Kolkata's historic Nehru Children's Museum, which is facing a possible shutdown from August 16 due to the urgent need to upgrade its ageing firefighting system. The museum's director, Sudeep Shrimal, confirmed that the Chief Minister's Office had contacted the institution and that discussions would soon be held with Principal Advisor Subrata Gupta. Preliminary talks have also been held with Rajya Sabha MP Shamik Bhattacharya regarding measures to preserve the museum.
According to the museum authorities, the institution cannot bear the cost of the required fire safety renovation on its own. Following the decision in July to consider closure over safety concerns, the museum appealed to the state government to take over the institution and extend all necessary assistance. The Chief Minister's Office subsequently reached out to the museum, and a meeting with government officials is expected to take place soon to discuss the future of the institution.
The Nehru Children's Museum was established on land leased for 99 years on December 22, 1966, and was inaugurated on November 14, 1972, by the then Chief Minister Siddhartha Shankar Roy. Managed by the National Cultural Association, the museum houses more than 1,100 dolls from 96 countries, exhibits depicting the Ramayana and Mahabharata through clay dolls, and a Ganesh Gallery featuring around 300 idols, making it a prominent educational and cultural destination for children and families.