Vijayawada: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy will unveil the 125-foot-tall statue of Dr B.R. Ambedkar in Ambedkar Smriti Vanam at Swarajya Maidan in Vijayawada on January 19. Announcing this on Thursday, AP social welfare minister Merugu Nagarjuna said Ambedkar's fans from all over the country are expected for the unveiling ceremony.
Officials have been ordered to make elaborate arrangements to ensure that people do not face any problems during the grand event and the public meeting that follows. Nagarjuna reviewed the arrangements for the programme titled Jan Bhagidari when the highest Ambedkar statue in the country will be unveiled.
The Ambedkar Smritivanam at the venue, depicting the life of Ambedkar, will also be opened on the occasion. The minister said the memorial has been constructed at a cost of ₹400 crore. While the statue is ready, the related lighting and painting work is going on.
Mini theatre, museum, sky lighting, fountains, beautification with gardens in front and back of the statue, construction of buildings, retaining walls, lifts, vehicle parking and food court have almost been completed. He called upon Dalits and leaders of Dalit communities to attend the Ambedkar Smriti Vanam opening ceremony on January 19.
Principal secretary (Municipal and Urban Development) Y. Srilakshmi, Vijayawada Central MLA Malladi Vishnu, principal secretary (Social Welfare) G. Jayalakshmi, NTR district joint collector J.C. Sampath, Vijayawada municipal commissioner Swapnil Dinkar Pundkar, additional director (Social Welfare) Raghuram and others participated in the programme.
