'Rashtriya Smriti' to be completed by October next year

NEW DELHI: The construction work on the ' Rashtriya Smriti', which will serve as a permanent place for holding last rites of departed national leaders, is likely to be completed by October next year, the Urban Development ministry said today.

The Government proposes to develop the locations where former Prime Minister I K Gujral and former President R Venkataraman were cremated as samadhis and integrate these with the 'Rashtriya Smriti', the ministry said in a statement here.

The 'Rashtriya Smriti', which is located on the banks of Yamuna, will be landscaped with bold and simple geometry of nine squares of monumental dimensions and it will have a central court surrounded by stepped green area to accommodate large public attendance.

The plaques of departed leaders will be placed in their memory. The Government had in August, 2000 decided not to build any more samadhis of departed national leaders.

However, government has since permitted cremation and construction of samadhis of some departed leaders. Consequently, in January this year, it was decided to construct the 'Rashtriya Smriti' on the banks of River Yamuna, the ministry said in its statement.

The construction is being carried out by the Central Public Works Department, it added.