A life-size statue of Sri Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar, the last Maharaja of Mysore, will be installed at Hardinge Circle, a key intersection connecting six major roads here.
The statue would be sculpted in marble and mounted at the circle after constructing an elevated pedestal with a ‘mantapa’ (tower) in Indo-Saracenic architecture.
The proposed Sri Jayachamarajendra Circle would be developed on the lines of Sri Krishnarajendra Circle and Sri Chamarajendra Circle, at a cost of Rs. 5 crore. This will be the third life-size statue of one of the former Maharajas to be installed in a public place. At the age of 21, Sri Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar ascended the throne as the Maharaja of Mysore on September 8, 1940. He passed away on September 23, 1974.
In recognition of his valuable services to the State, the State government has decided to install his statue at Hardinge Circle.
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The task has been given to the Mysore City Corporation.
Ground-breaking ceremony
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah performed the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the circle here on Saturday.
MCC Commissioner C.G. Betsurmath told The Hindu that tenders had been invited recently for executing the work.
The work orders would be issued soon to the contractor whose name had been finalised for the work.
“The marble statue, mantap and landscaping will cost around Rs. 5 crore,” he said, adding that the work might take about a year to complete.
The commissioner said the sculptor for etching the marble statue will be identified shortly and orders issued immediately. In the meantime, civil work will be commenced, he added.
Dr. Betsurmath clarified that the circle and the mantap would be similar to K.R. Circle and Chamarajendra Circle.
Estimate
A sum of Rs. 3.55 crore has been estimated for the foundation, concrete pavement, drainage work, construction of mantap and granite work.
The ornamental work for the circle will cost around Rs. 40 lakh besides electrical works costing Rs. 43.26 lakh, and Rs. 17.3 lakh for the shifting of water and drainage pipes, according to the MCC.
A sum of Rs. 30 lakh had been set aside for the marble statue.
The statues of Sri Krishnarajendra Wadiyar and Sri Chamarajendra Wadiyar had been sculpted in marble and the circles housing the two statues are major landmarks in the city’s Core Heritage Area.