There is an art gallery and an elephant court, with 60 stone statues of the BSP’s election symbol, each costing Rs 56 lakh. All structures are made of pink sandstone, brought from Rajasthan, Mirzapur and Paharpur in huge blocks. Recently, the LDA decided to close three roads in the area to develop parking for the memorial. A police post was also built, blocking a road on the Gomti embankment. After a PIL challenging the action came up before the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court, the LDA changed the land use of the roads from transport to public utilities. A stadium and an office of the crime branch were razed for the project.

Manyawar Kanshi Ram Memorial

Rs 110 crore spent on project, another Rs 125 crore needed

This memorial is coming up on 42 acres on Jail Road, Alambagh. In 2003, Mayawati had developed the Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Maidan on this land—for holding political rallies and cultural programmes—at a cost of Rs 6.54 crore. After Mayawati became Chief Minister again in May last year, the Government decided to build a Kanshi Ram memorial there. About Rs 110 crore has been spent on the project and officials say another Rs 125 crore will be required to complete it. The UPRNN started work in November 2007 and the Government has set a deadline of March 2009 to complete the project. Giant, 18-foot-tall bronze statues of Mayawati and Kanshi Ram have been installed. Over a dozen big stone elephants have come up near the main entrance. The original stone boundary has been demolished and a new one, with more expensive stones, is being built. In the middle, a large garden is being planned. Thirty-foot-high bronze fountains are being positioned at the four corners of the memorial.

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