Construction of the "grand museum" in Kermanshah Province will resume after a long-term hiatus thanks to the allocation of 90 billion rials ($2.1 million) by the Plan and Budget Organization.
The building process started in 1975, but came to a halt 34 years later, due to the lack of budget, Akbar Rezaei, a deputy at the provincial office of Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, was quoted by IRNA as saying.
The half-built structure was itself turning into a historical site, until the construction project was refueled by new funds, the official ironically said.
"The project has progressed by over 50% and will be completed after constructing a storehouse, putting up new partitions and installing guide signs," Rezaei added.
Reportedly, there are over 12,000 pieces of relics discovered during archaeological excavations in Kermanshah which are in dire need of protection as cultural heritage items. They will be transferred to the would-be museum as soon as the construction is completed.
"The museum will also be a suitable place for those interested in archaeological research," the official added.
There are currently 13 operational museums in the historically rich province, including specialized centers on anthropology, apparel, Paleolithic, scripts and books.
Covering 5,000 square meters of area, "the grand museum is expected to officially start operation in a couple of years," according to Rezaei.
