Maharashtra sets ball rolling for Ambedkar memorial

The Maharashtra government has shortlisted 10 consultants who have offered to construct a world-class B.R. Ambedkar memorial, an official said here Wednesday.

This follows after the cabinet Monday approved the transfer of the 4.84 hectare Indu Mill land in Dadar for constructing the memorial.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has shortlisted the consultants out of 13 who responded to the global expression of interest invited by MMRDA.

The MMRDA, appointed as a Special Planning Authority for the memorial, will now initiate the process to finalise the concept design and the best design will get a prize of Rs.1 crore.

Welcoming the central governments's move, Republican Party of India (A) chief Ramdas Athawale demanded the state government must initiate the foundation stone laying process by Dec 5, the eve of the 57th death anniversary of Ambedkar.

"If the government fails to take necessary steps, then we shall go ahead with the ceremony Dec 6 (the death anniversary day)," Athawale said.

On its part, the state government is also in a hurry to cash in on the sentiments and initiate the process before the Lok Sabha elections in the first half of 2014, followed by the Maharashtra assembly polls in the second half.