Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday instructed the officials concerned to expedite the works of a 125-feet tall bronze statue of Dr B R Ambedkar, and to ensure it is ready for inauguration on April 14 as scheduled.
Ambedkar's birth anniversary falls on April 14. According to an official release, Reddy instructed the officials to form a high-level committee to monitor the progress of Dr B R Ambedkar Smriti Vanam work at Swaraj Maidan in Vijayawada. The officials informed the Chief Minister that the statue, to be made with 352 metric tonne of steel and 112 metric tonne of brass, would be installed on an 81-feet pedestal taking the total length to 206 feet.
The Rs 268 crore worth 'Smriti Vanam' project will have a ground floor along with two floors from the pedestal part besides a 2,000-capacity convention centre with spacious car and bus parking facility, it said. When the officials told him that arrangements have been made to complete the casting of the statue by March 31, Reddy said the quality of work is non-negotiable and the progress should be monitored by a committee, which is yet to be constituted. For some parts of the statue, the casting has been completed and it would be shifted to the project site by January 31, the officials explained, adding that the beautification work at the project site and also on all roads leading to it are also in full swing.
Ministers Merugu Nagarjuna, Botsa Satyanarayana and Chief Secretary Dr K S Jawahar Reddy were also present in the meeting.
