Building of a memorial for former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam at his burial site at Pei Karumbu near here was not in the immediate offing as the Ministry of Defence, which has taken up the task, has sought at least eight acres of land for establishing a ‘world class structure.’ A three-member team, headed Mala Mohan, Architect, Additional Director General, Directorate of Architecture, Ministry of Defence, which held discussions with the family members of Kalam here on Tuesday, said the Ministry of Defence wanted to build the memorial with a museum, knowledge centre, auditorium, staff quarters and parking bay to accommodate about 2,000 vehicles and the existing 1.5 acres of land would be hardly enough to have these structures.
“Presently, the State government has made available about 1.5 acres of land, but we are looking for eight acres,” she said, adding they would lay the foundation stone for the memorial only after finalising the land requirements.
She said the ministry had decided to seek the additional land from the government and suggested that Kalam’s family could also approach the government. Indicating that funds would not be a constraint, she said they would work fast and complete the project in a year’s time soon after the land was made available.
Ms. Mohan was accompanied by Rajesh Kumar Kaundal, Superintendent of Engineering, Madras Engineering Service (MES), Chennai, and G. Raja Mahendra Reddy, Garrison Engineer, Tirunelveli.
A.P.J.M. Sheik Saleem, grand nephew of Kalam who was present with the team, along with A.P.J.M. Maraikayar, elder brother of Kalam, said the family was not in a hurry as it wanted the memorial to be a world class one. There was no chance for laying the foundation stone for the memorial on Kalam’s first death anniversary on July 27 and “we are willing to wait,” he said.
