To commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao unveiled the 125ft tall statue of the architect of the Indian Constitution. Located on the banks of Hyderabad’s Hussain Sagar Lake, near the State Secretariat, the newly inaugurated statue is touted to be the tallest Dr Ambedkar statue in India. Know more on SURFACES REPORTER (SR).
Standing tall at 175ft including a 50-ft-high circular base resembling the edifice of the Parliament of India, the statue weighs 474 tonne. The statue has been built using 360 tonne of stainless steel and 114 tonne of bronze. Build at a whopping cost of Rs 146.50 crore, the statue is set to be another landmark for the state.
The statue has been designed by renowned sculptors, Ram Vanji Sutar and his son Anil Ram Sutar of Ram Sutar Art Creations in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, who also designed several monumental sculptures, including the world’s tallest statue — the Statue of Unity (597ft) of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Gujarat.
The statue of Dr Ambedkar stands atop a three-story pedestal, spanning a total built-up area of 26,258sqft. Within this grand structure, a museum will showcase articles and pictures depicting the life history of Dr Ambedkar, along with a 100-seater auditorium for audio-visual presentations. Reportedly, plans are underway to build a library in the near future.
The entire premise, which spans 11 acre, has been adorned with beautiful landscaping and greenery, covering 2.93 acre. Ample parking space for approximately 450 cars is also provided for visitors. To access the statue, two lifts are available for visitors to reach the top of the pedestal and pay their respects at the feet of Dr Ambedkar.
Image credit: ANI