Ambala: Shaheed Smarak to miss August deadline

The ambitious Shaheed Smarak project is set to miss its deadline of August. The work is now expected to be completed by the year-end due to the pending artwork.

The memorial will showcase the First War of Indian Independence in 1857, its circumstances and events that happened in three parts, including the events at Ambala, followed by the outbreak at Haryana and the events and martyrs across the country.

On the condition of anonymity, an official associated with the project said that nearly 95 per cent civil work has been completed and over 65-70 per cent artwork of the Shaheed Smarak has also been completed. Since the artwork, especially the digital work including the short films, requires more time, the project is likely to miss the deadline of August.

The official said the committee of historians had given some suggestions which are to be incorporated. However, all efforts are being made to get the project finished within this year.

Cabinet Minister Anil Vij, who has been taking a keen interest in the project, visited the under-construction Shaheed Smarak and directed the officials to complete the pending work soon. The minister inquired about the progress of the artwork, also visited the galleries and praised the artists for the work done.

Vij said soon, a meeting with the senior officials of the departments concerned would be held so that the pending work is completed with better coordination. He also instructed the officials to open a sky café on the 12th floor of the memorial tower and also install a binocular so that visitors could see other areas of Ambala Cantonment.

During the video presentation, the minister instructed the officials to add some more parts to the history shown in the video. He said that all the details of the places where the struggle for freedom took place should also be shown. He also instructed the officials to install more lights at various places in the memorial and plant attractive plants in the vacant space. He also said a map of India of the times of 1857 should be installed so that visitors and coming generations can be shown how India was.

Director of Shaheed Smarak Dr Kuldeep Saini, Superintending Engineer of PWD (B&R) Harpal Singh, Executive Engineer PWD (B&R) Ritesh Aggarwal and several officials were present on this occasion.