Hyderabad: The 125-foot statue of Dr B.R. Ambedkar at Hussainsagar, unveiled on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti on April 14, and the Telangana Martyrs Memorial, inaugurated on June 22, are yet to open to the public.
Asked when they would open for visitors, an official of the roads and buildings (R&B) department, which built the projects, said that final touches needed to be give to both projects.
“Soon after the inauguration, touch-ups to the stainless steel portion of the structure were done. Presently, final touch-ups to walls are being done on the second floor,” an R&B official said.
The Telangana Martyrs Memorial is a six-storey structure, which includes two basement floors.
B. Anand Kumar, executive director-cum-special officer, SC Co-op Development Corporation Ltd, which is responsible for the maintenance of Dr Ambedkar’s statue, said that the statue was closed as the R&B department was executing works. He emphasised that restriction imposed on visitors has nothing to do with the model code of conduct.
However, since the model code of conduct (MCC) came into force, two police personnel have been posted at the Ambedkar statue to prohibit the public from approaching it. “We have been instructed by our higher official not to allow anyone onto the premises or near the statue until further orders,” a police personnel deployed near the statue said.
