HYDERABAD: Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday unveiled the 125-foot-tall statue of BR Ambedkar in Hyderabad on Friday, the birth anniversary of the architect of the Constitution, on a grand scale.
Ambedkar's grandson Prakash Ambedkar was present as the sole chief guest at the event.
Flower petals were showered from a helicopter on the statute paying floral tributes to Ambedkar.
Rao had recently held a meeting with ministers and officials with regard to the inauguration of the giant Ambedkar statue, the opening of new Secretariat building complex and other issues.
The chief minister had said that the India's tallest statue of Ambedkar — which is next to the State Secretariat, opposite to Buddha statue and located beside the Telangana Martyrs memorial — would inspire people every day and motivate the entire State administration.
He made it clear to the ministers and officials that the unveiling ceremony of the Ambedkar statue should be held on a grand scale and the entire Telangana people and the country celebrate the occasion in a big manner.
It took at least two years to finalise technical and manufacturing measures since the decision was taken by KCR to erect the statue of Ambedkar.
He had praised the sculptor 98-year-old Ram Vanji Sutar for making such a big effort.
The government invited Sutar, a Padma Bhushan awardee and honoured him.
Arrangements were made to ensure that over 35,000 people from all 119 constituencies attend the Ambedkar statue unveiling meeting with 300 people from each constituency and as many as 750 state-run Road Transport Corporation buses were operated for the public.
Food was arranged for people who come to the assembly complex within 50 km before reaching Hyderabad.
One lakh sweet packets, 1.50 lakh butter milk packets and equal number of water packets were made available for the public.
Salient features of the project:
Height of Statue: 125 FeetHeight of Pedestal: 50 FeetDiameter of Pedestal -- Ground floor: 172 ft | Terrace: 74 ftBuilt up area in Pedestal Structure -- Lower Ground Floor: 2066 Sft | Ground Floor : 15200 SftTerrace Floor: 2,200 SftBuilt up area in ancillary building: 6,792 SftTotal built-up area : 26,258 SftFacilities in the monument building:
Museum & Gallery exhibiting important life events of Dr BR AmbedkarLandscape and greenery: 2.93 acresParking for about 450 carsLifts 15 passengers - 2 NosQuantity of stainless steel used in armature structure of statue: 360 MTQuantity of bronze used in casting of the statue: 114 MT
