By S.T. Ravikumar

Mysuru has earned the sobriquet as Heritage City, Cultural Capital, Yoga City and Clean City. Adding to the list is the nickname Statue City, thanks to many statues that adorn various parts of the city, especially in the Central Business District.

Apart from being landmarks, these statues are splendid works of art, attracting a number of tourists who want to be photographed next to them. These statues, including that of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, Chamarajendra Wadiyar, Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar, Mahatma Gandhi, Rashtrakavi Kuvempu, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Swami Vivekananda, Basavanna, Gautama Buddha, Babu Jagjivan Ram, have given a distinct identity to the city.

The road next to North Gate of the Mysore Palace has three statues and there is a statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of Indian Constitution in front of the Rangacharlu Memorial Town Hall. The statue of Gandhiji has been established at the Gandhi Square. One more statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar will come up on the right side of the existing statue near the Town Hall. This statue will stand on a pedestal and will sport a gold-plated dome.

The new statue is being constructed based on the model of Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar statue and the Public Works Department has taken up the works at a cost of Rs. 4.95 crore. Though the project got the approval from the State Government in October 2015, the works were delayed to finalise the design and structure. Construction works and the statue carving works are being carried out on a war-footing and the statue is expected to be inaugurated on April 14, Ambedkar Jayanthi.

The PWD Department has given the contract of developing the stage, pedestal, steps, Mexican Grass patches and electrification of the statue to Shankara Shilpi School Institute. The 23-diametre dome will be made of copper and will be gold-plated. This work has been entrusted to Chennai-based Smart Creations.

The Ambedkar statue, holding Indian Constitution, inside the structure will be 9 ft in height and will be carved with white marble stones. The statue is being carved by Shilpi Arun Yogiraj, who has carved the Jayachamarajendra statue. The area surrounding the statue will be barricaded and Mexican Grass patches will be laid near the steps to enhance aesthetics.

Already 90 percent of the works have been completed and Chief Minister Siddharamaiah will inaugurate the statue on April 14. According to sources, once the new statue is inaugurated, the existing Dr. B.R. Ambedkar statue near the Town Hall will be shifted to K.R. Nagar.