The State government has finalised the schedule for setting up the prestigious Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Smruti Vanam project, a memorial for Dr. Ambedkar, announced by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao coinciding with his 125th birth anniversary.
Accordingly, the consultant for preparing a detailed project report would be selected before this month-end and the DPR would be finalised by September-end. Global tenders for the prestigious project involving a 125-ft bronze statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, a convention centre and library, all estimated to cost over ₹ 100 crore, would be invited in October.
Tenders would be finalised in November and works with deadline of one year will commence the next month. The Cabinet sub-committee constituted in this direction had resolved to ensure that the Smruti Vanam is inaugurated before Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s death anniversary on December 6 next year.
Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Kadiyam Srihari, who chaired the meeting of the Cabinet panel, expressed displeasure that work on the project was yet to pick up pace even one year after the Chief Minister made the announcement. Though the Cabinet sub-committee members along with officials concerned toured China and other places to study the process adopted in setting up similar projects, the model of the proposed 125 ft statue was yet to be prepared.
“The officials concerned should accord top priority to the project which has been announced by the Chief Minister,” the Deputy Chief Minister told the officials.
