Work on 125-feet tall Ambedkar statue speeded up, says minister Nagarjuna

Vijayawada: Social welfare minister Merugu Nagarjuna has said the 125-feet tall Babasaheb Ambedkar statue, being made at the behest of the AP government, would be unveiled on Ambedkar Jayanti Day.

“The work is progressing fast,” he said after a visit of the Swarajya Maidan (PWD Grounds) here on Wednesday.

Nagarjuna as also experts and senior officials examined the prototype idols, gave their opinions and sent them to the design experts in Gurugram to finalize the shape.

The minister said the shoes for the feet were fixed and the parts related to the front portion are being joined by welding. “The state government is implementing many welfare programmes for the scheduled castes. Chief minister Jagan is regularly reviewing the statue’s work.”

Technical expert Vasudeva Rao said the 125-feet statue would be installed on an 80-feet pedestal. The work is on for all 14 hours these days in the premises of Swarajya Maidan. A lift facility will be arranged inside the pedestal, he said.

He said the total height of the idol from the ground would be 205 feet. Along with the erection of the Smriti Vanam around the statue, the work for the Central Library, Convention Centre, Amusement Park and Community Hall with a capacity of 2,000 people on 18 acres of government land taken at a cost of ` 248 crore, is being carried out on an urgent basis.