VIJAYAWADA: All is set for unveiling of the “world’s tallest” the 125-foot-tall bronze statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on an 81-foot pedestal named as Samajika Nyaya Mahasilpam, the Statue of Social Justice. The unveiling will be done at the Ambedkar Smriti Vanam at the Swarajya Maidan here on Friday by Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.
The Chief Minister described the statue as the “greatest sculpture of social justice that stood as a finest jewel in the crown of not only the state but also of the country.”
The CM made an emotional appeal to the people to attend the unveiling ceremony. He said, “The Ambedkar statue has been installed with great responsibility as the state government has been implementing the Navaratnalu welfare schemes with an unfettered confidence in his ideology.”
“Dr Ambedkar rebelled against untouchability and the dominant ideology while taking education closer to the oppressed classes,” Jagan Mohan Reddy said.
The Chief Minister will address the Samajika Samata Sankalpa Sabha at the Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium. Entry for visitors to the Ambedkar memorial would be from January 20.
The the height of the Ambedkar statue is 125ft while the pedestal height is 81ft. The size of the pedestal is 3,481sqft, the total height of the statue including the pedestal is 206ft and the pedestal is built as a Ground +2floors building. The Pedestal was designed in the concept of the Kalachakra Maha Mandal of Buddhist Architecture.
“The pedestal is a G+2 Isosceles Trapezium-shaped RCC framed structure with pink sandstone brought from Rajasthan. The total project cost is `404.35 crore. The project area is 18.81 acres. The Dr BR Ambedkar Experience Center is exhibiting the ‘Story of Ambedkar's Life,” officials said.
The Convention Centre has a seating capacity for 2000 persons, the food court is spread over 8000 sqft plinth area. A play area for kids, water bodies, a musical fountain, and long walking track for morning and evening walkers with greenery around the Statue of Social Justice are the other attractions.
