NTR Park to make way for Ambedkar

One consultant approached by the sub-committee has asked for `7 crore to prepare the project report.

A sub-committee has proposed to all but uproot NTR Garden to make way for the proposed Ambedkar Park with a 125foot statue of Dr B.R. Ambedkar. According to the plan now, only the NTR Samadhi area will remain on NTR Marg, next to the existing Secretariat.

The sub-committee, headed by deputy chief minister Kadiyam Srihari, was formed to supervise the installation of the Ambedkar statue and developing park around it.

At a recent meeting, the sub-committee decided to install the statue in NTR Garden and to redevelop the park which currently has a play zone, toy train, eateries and an amusement area.

According to a senior official who participated in the meeting, the entire NTR Garden area except the samadhi will be taken up for the Ambedkar statue and the new park.

The sub-committee has estimated that the cost of the statue will be about `70 crore. It said one acre land was required for the basement of the 125-foot statue.

A senior official said that the Hyderabad Metro-politan Development Authority had spent about `170 crore to develop NTR Garden. The Garden is popular with tourists and generates good revenue for the HMDA from ticket sales and contracts with commercial outlets inside the party.

Sources said that the HMDA officials had asked the sub-committee to take the land required for the Ambedkar park and leave the rest for the NTR Garden. The sub-committee wanted the entire area.

The officials said for this entire work the government has to spend about `200 to `250 crore.

Officials said in the meeting that the issue of Supreme Court prohibiting any construction near water bodies came up discussion. Following this, the sub-committee has said it would take the Advocate General’s opinion in the issue.