In an effort to recognise the sacrifices made by soldiers while defending the country, the Narendra Modi Government on Wednesday approved the long-pending war memorial project in the National Capital. The Union Cabinet headed by the Prime Minister gave the go-ahead for the Rs500-crore project for building a National War Memorial and a National War Museum near India Gate in memory of over 22,500 soldiers who laid down their lives post-Independence.
The total time for completion of the entire project at Princess Park is estimated to be five years. The prestigious project will be monitored by an empowered Steering Committee chaired by the Defence Secretary and assisted by a dedicated project management team to ensure that the memorial is constructed within the stipulated time-frame. Post-commissioning, the management body will take care of the maintenance of the memorial and the museum, an official statement released after the Cabinet meeting said.
With the present decision of the Cabinet, a long-pending demand of the armed forces has been redressed. Post-Independence, more than 22,500 soldiers had laid down their lives in national interests and in defence of the sovereignty and integrity of the country. However, even after 69 years of Independence, no memorial to commemorate the martyrs has been constructed till date.
\“This Government will be establishing a war memorial and a museum with a deep sense of gratitude to honour those brave soldiers who defended the country with their lives. The memorial will promote a sense of patriotism in the minds of visitors and will award an opportunity to citizens of this vast nation to express their token sense of gratitude to the bravehearts,” the statement said.
While their final movements would have gone unnoticed and on occasions their final resting place unknown, this museum will capture those poignant moments in history and bring out the variegated nature of their commitments, it said.
“Their dedication, this Government feels, is a part of unfinished work in nation-building. The Government resolves with all its humility at its command that they did not die in vain and that Bharat Mata is enriched by their contribution. A visit to the memorial shall inspire us to rededicate ourselves to this great nation with utmost devotion,” the statement said.