PWD issues final deadline for completing Shaheed Smarak

The Public Works Department (PWD), Buildings and Roads (B&R) has fixed August-end as the final deadline for the completion of the ambitious 1857 Shaheed Smarak Project (war memorial), being developed to commemorate the sacrifice of the unsung heroes of the first revolt in Ambala Cantonment.

While the civil works are in their last leg, over 50 per cent art work has been completed and the department wants to make it operational by August 31. The project has already missed its deadlines repeatedly. Officials in the department said a final deadline had been fixed and they wanted to complete the project in all aspects.

The civil and art work of the project is around Rs 474 crore (Rs 362 crore for the civil work and Rs 112 crore for the art work). The war memorial is coming up near the IOCL depot on Ambala-Delhi National Highway. The memorial will showcase the First War of Indian Independence in 1857, its circumstances.

An official said, “Visitors will be shown all aspects related to freedom struggle through 22 galleries. The struggle will be showcased through events happened in Ambala, including its outbreak and war, outbreak and war in Haryana, Haryana Documentary, war in India, Atrocity Tunnel, and Atrocity in India. Over 150-foot-high memorial tower will be the centre of attraction. The structural scope and number of buildings increased after the project started. The tender of art works was issued on a later stage, due to which the project got delayed.”

Meanwhile, Ritesh Aggarwal, Executive Engineer, PWD (B&R), said “The Shaheed Smarak is a big project. The development of art work takes time. Lotus petals on the main tower will be installed soon. All efforts are being made to complete the project in all aspects and make the memorial operational by August end. To narrate story of the first revolt, 126 short clips and shows have been created and will be displayed in various galleries, on water screens and at the open air theatre.”

“As many as 373 graphic panels will be used to narrate stories of the first revolt. All efforts are being made to recreate the atmosphere of 1857 and tell the real history to visitors. They will be apprised of circumstances and events that happened. An underpass has been created in the memorial to give visitors a real time experience of how people used to go through tunnels. A gallery has been prepared where visitors will be able to pay tribute to heroes of the first revolt,” he said.