Government approves Rs 500-crore project for war memorial, museum

NEW DELHI: In a much anticipated move, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the construction of a National War Memorial and a National War Museum at Princess Park, near India Gate in memory of all Indian soldiers who have made the sacrifice for the country post-independence.

"The estimated cost of the project will be around Rs 500 crore and the total time for completion of the entire project is estimated to be five years," a Ministry of Defence press release said.

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Official figures reveal that Post-Independence, more than 22,500 soldiers have made the supreme sacrifice in national interests and in defence of the sovereignty and integrity of the country.

"Even after 69 years of Independence, no memorial to commemorate the martyrs has been constructed till date. With the present decision of the Cabinet a long pending demand of the Armed Forces has been redressed," said the release.

An empowered Steering Committee chaired by Defence Secretary and assisted by a project management team will monitor the project to ensure its timed completion. Post commissioning, a management body will be formed for maintenance of the National War Memorial and Museum.

"This government will be establishing a War Memorial and a Museum with a deep sense of gratitude to honour those brave soldiers, who laid down 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 brave soldiers, who laid down their lives for the mother land," the release said.