Prayagraj: The state govt has initiated a major project for upkeep and development of public places promoting social harmony and honouring great personalities.Under the scheme, statues of prominent national and eminent personalities installed in public spaces across the state will be secured, preserved and given a dignified appearance. The objective is to upgrade statues lacking shelters or boundary walls—into secure, dignified and aesthetically pleasing sites, fostering a sense of respect among the new generation.At various rural and urban locations, statues and memorials of figures have deteriorated over time due to their location in open spaces. Incidents of vandalism or damage caused by anti-social elements have also been reported. Resolving to develop and beautify these sites dedicated to great personalities, govt has introduced the ‘Dr. BR Ambedkar Statue Development Scheme’ in its first phase. Statue sites across all 403 assembly constituencies of the state will be developed and beautified. Ramashankar Patel, District Social Welfare Officer (Prayagraj), said that a budget of ₹12 crore has been allocated for Prayagraj district. As many as 10 memorials of great personalities are being selected from each assembly constituency for this transformation.Under the first phase of the scheme, a total of 4,030 statue sites across all 403 assembly constituencies of the state will be developed. Govt has allocated a sum of ₹403 crore for this initiative. This will make an average of ₹10 lakh available for the development of each statue site. Although govt order caps the maximum development cost at ₹40 lakh per site, the actual scope of work will be assessed based on the specific requirements of each location. Patel, meanwhile, said that the executing agencies for this project have already been identified. Proposals have been sought from public representatives across all 12 assembly constituencies of Prayagraj district.The scheme covers the development of sites featuring statues not only of Dr. Ambedkar but also of icons of social justice and harmony such as Sant Ravidas, Sant Kabir, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Maharshi Valmiki. Many statues of these great figures in both urban and rural areas lack essential features like protective canopies and boundary walls, leaving them vulnerable to weather damage, encroachment and neglect. The initiative aims to preserve these sites while also beautifying the surrounding areas. Planned improvements include the installation of steel staircases with railings, protective canopies, boundary walls and lighting systems, alongside finishing work and landscaping. Additionally, an information board displaying the name and a brief history of the figure depicted will be installed. The scheme also allows for the replacement of old or damaged statues at public sites with new marble ones, subject to meeting specific govt-mandated criteria. Govt has set up a timeline for the swift implementation of the project, setting a deadline for completion by December 2026.
