Mumbai: Modi to launch construction of Metro-2, Ambedkar Memorial

In a move that will fulfill long pending demands for Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's memorial in the city and expansion of Metro network, the state Cabinet has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to perform the groundbreaking ceremony for the grand memorial and Metro-2, on October 4.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi with General Dalbir Singh Suhag, Admiral R K Dhowan and Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha paying homage to 1965 war martyrs at Amar Jawan Jyoti, India Gate in New Delhi on Tuesday. Pic/PTI

Sources in the government said that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis informed the Cabinet on Tuesday that the PM would visit the city on October 4. Modi will visit Indu Mills for the groundbreaking ceremony of the memorial and also pay tributes to Dr Ambedkar at Chaitya Bhoomi.

His speech will be at Rang Sharada, followed by a public rally, at reclamation ground. On the same day, the PM will also perform a groundbreaking ceremony for the Metro-2 line between Dahisar and DN Nagar (Of 16.8 km, cost Rs 4994 crore).

This is part of the 40-km Metro-2 line between Dahisar and Bandra. Modi will launch the construction work of another Metro line between Dahisar (east) and Andheri (east), which will be of 16.5 km length and cost Rs 4737 crore. The Metro functions will be held at Goregaon Exhibition Centre. Modi will also visit the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust on the same day for yet another function.

Ambedkar Memorial
The Ambedkar Memorial will be built on 12.5 acres of land which the Centre has transferred to the state government. Announcing the handover, Fadnavis had told mid-day in August this year that it will be a state of the art memorial and serve the objective of exposing people to the intellectual facets of Ambedkar.

Read Story: Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Memorial foundation stone laying likely on Oct 4

He had said Ambedkar's contribution to the nation and struggle for a casteless society will reflect in the memorial. The memorial will have a stupa, auditoriums, research centre, library, lotus ponds and meditation centres. The memorial will be joined with neighbouring Chaitya Bhoomi (Ambedkar's small existing memorial) and iconic Shivaji Park.

The Congress-NCP governments had promised a grand memorial and initiated handing over process. The transfer was done after the BJP came to power. Issues related to land transfer have been sorted out, according to government officials.