Haryana’s Energy, Transport, and Labour Minister, Sh. Anil Vij, today inspected and held a review meeting with Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi and other senior officers regarding the construction of the Aazadi ki ladai ka pehla Shaheed Smarak dedicated to the First War of Independence of 1857 in Ambala Cantonment.
Energy Minister Anil Vij instructed officers to complete the construction of the Smarak as soon as possible so that its inauguration could take place at the earliest.After the meeting, Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi said, regarding the possibility of Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the Smarak, that there is a likelihood the Prime Minister may do so, but the final confirmation can only come from the Prime Minister’s Office.
“When the time comes, we will make a humble request, and if the PMO decides, then the Prime Minister will indeed inaugurate the Smarak,” he said.The Chief Secretary stated that the government’s effort is to develop this project as one of Haryana’s major projects.
He said that the Smarak should gain nationwide and international recognition so that tourists from across India and abroad come to see it. Updating on the progress, he said the Smarak is in its final stage of construction and efforts are being made to complete it soon.
The target is to complete it within two months so that it can be inaugurated on November , 2026. Sh. Rastogi added that the Smarak is being built at a cost of about Rs. 600 crore. He further said that this Smarak is unique in itself, as despite traveling extensively across India, he has not seen any other project like it.
*Various points discussed in the meeting*
Earlier, in the meeting chaired by Energy Minister Anil Vij with Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi and other officers, several aspects related to construction were discussed in detail. Topics included historical elements to be displayed in the Smarak, audio-video presentations, engraving the names of martyrs in golden letters, completing the work of 23 galleries under construction, projector shows in the open-air theatre, making the Smarak financially self-sufficient, and building a sky café on top of the memorial tower.
*Four-member committee formed to expedite construction*
It was decided in the meeting that a four-member committee would be formed to accelerate the construction of the Shaheed Smarak. The committee will hold review meetings every Friday at 2 p.m. at the site. The committee will include the DC of Ambala, the Engineer-in-Chief of PWD, the Director of the smarak, and a representative of the construction agency.
Before the meeting, Energy Minister Anil Vij, Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, Additional Chief Secretary of PWD Anurag Aggarwal, Commissioner & Secretary of Information and Public Relations Department Amit Aggarwal, Director General K.M. Pandurang, Engineer-in-Chief of PWD Anil Kumar Dahiya and Deputy Commissioner of Ambala Ajay Tomar planted a Rudraksha sapling in the memorial premises.