Corporations/ Associations/ Others | Haryana - India | PID: 184665
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Value: 200 Crore | After remaining caught in red tape for years, the project to build a shaheed smarak to commemorate the sacrifices of the 1857 revolt heroes has finally started in Ambala Cantonment. The Public Works Department started the work of earth filling in December last year. The memorial is being constructed at a cost of Rs 200 crore near the local IOCL depot on the Ambala-Delhi National Highway
The project was conceived by former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in 2010, and the government acquired 22 acres near the local IOCL depot. However, due to political wrangling, the foundation stone-laying ceremony was called off thrice from 2010 to 2014. Incumbent Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar finally laid the foundation stone in May 2015. Even after the laying of the foundation stone, the project kept hanging fire for different reasons
Health Minister Anil Vij has been taking a keen interest in it. He has repeatedly asked the departments concerned to expedite the work and get the project completed on a priority basis
Vij says, “The 1857 revolt, the first struggle for freedom, started at Ambala Cantonment on May 9. Thus, there has been a demand that a memorial to the freedom fighters be built here. The work on the shaheed samarak has started. Ambala Cantonment will get special recognition at the international level after the completion of the project. The Information, Public Relations and Languages Department is spending Rs 200 crore on the construction of the memorial. The Municipal Corporation Ambala has transferred around 22 acres near the Ambala-Delhi National Highway to the department”
Renu Khanna, a renowned architect, has prepared the design of the project. The previous government had got its design prepared, but the incumbent government completely changed it. Besides all required facilities, there will be space for a helipad as well. A subway will also be constructed so that people travelling on the Delhi-Ambala road can easily reach the memorial
The memorial will house a museum based on the 1857 revolt heroes, a library, an audio-video museum, food court, children’s park, cafeteria, and an open-air auditorium with a capacity of 750 persons. The facility to show 3-D pictures will also be available. A laser show will also be showcased at night to portray the life of the revolutionaries and the events of the revolution of 1857
DD Kamboj, Executive Engineer, PWD (B&R), says, “There will be two 20-feet high walls along with a 70-feet memorial on which the details of the 1857 revolt heroes will be displayed”
Anil Vij says, It will be a memorial where people will be able to get all information about the first freedom struggle and the unsung heroes of the 1857 revolt. The Public Works Department has been given directions to work on the project on a priority basis”
Victim of red tape
The project was conceived by former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in 2010, and the government acquired 22 acres near the local IOCL depot. However, due to political wrangling, the foundation stone-laying ceremony was called off thrice from 2010 to 2014
Incumbent Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar finally laid the foundation stone in May 2015
| Updated on: 19 - Jan - 2019
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