Ludhiana: Commuters passing through Bharat Nagar Chowk on Tuesday were greeted by a formidable sight from the past: the statue of Maha Vir Chakra recipient Major Bhupinder Singh and his captured Patton tank have returned to their original home after three decades of displacement in own city.Following an overnight operation involving heavy machinery and precision manoeuvres, the legendary 1965 war memorial — moved by the municipal corporation (MC) crews from its temporary site near Nehru Rose Garden to one of the busiest intersections — once again serves as the city’s most formidable greeting, restoring a piece of Punjab’s martial pride to the heart of the industrial hub.The complex shifting process began at 11pm on Monday and concluded by 6am on Tuesday. To ensure the heavy relics were moved without damage, officials deployed a specialised trailer and three heavy-duty cranes. Zonal municipal commissioner Jasdev Singh Sekhon said the weight of the tank and the delicacy of the statue required extreme caution. “We had to be very careful in lifting the armour and stone as these are heavy,” Sekhon said. “It took three cranes to manage the process. The rest of the installation will proceed accordingly.”The MC has already completed the circular base for the tank. While the statue is positioned currently to one side, it will be mounted permanently on its own pedestal within a few days.The Logistics and CostThe decision to relocate follows a Jan 29 directive from deputy commissioner Himanshu Jain. The project was fast-tracked despite some local debate regarding the ₹14 lakh tender cost. To make room for the war memorial, a large cycle sculpture previously installed by a private firm at the chowk was removed last week. Beyond the physical installation, the MC plans to add educational signage detailing Major Bhupinder Singh’s military contributions to inspire passing citizens.A Legacy of GallantryMajor Bhupinder Singh, a native of Harnampura village in Ludhiana, was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) for exemplary leadership and devotion to duty during the 1965 War with Pakistan.The monument has a storied and nomadic history in the city. On Oct 30, 1979 it was installed originally at Bharat Nagar Chowk, with the Patton tank pointed symbolically toward Pakistan. On Dec 7, 1995, it was relocated to the Govt College for Girls due to rising traffic concerns.On Sept 2020, it was moved to Nehru Rose Garden to accommodate construction of the Ferozepur Road elevated flyover. Following the completion of the flyover, local residents and veterans’ groups intensified demands to restore the fallen war hero’s memorial to its prominent original location. MSID:: 130084363 413 |
