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News18
15 hours ago
- Business
- News18
'Statue Of Prosperity' Stands Tall, But Kempegowda Theme Park Project Yet To Get Off The Ground
The Rs 22-crore component of the Rs 84-crore project in Bengaluru has stalled, and blame is being traded between the BJP and Congress The 108-foot Statue of Prosperity dedicated to Nadaprabhu Kempegowda stands tall near the Kempegowda International Airport. But nearly three years after its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022, the theme park surrounding the statue remains incomplete. The Rs 22-crore component of the Rs 84-crore project has stalled, and blame is being traded. The BJP government, which conceptualised and swiftly executed the statue's construction within seven months, has accused the Congress-led state government of delaying the project. BJP leaders claim that although funds were allocated to develop the theme park, they remain unused due to political motives. Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, who holds the Bengaluru Development portfolio and is a Vokkaliga leader himself, dismissed the allegation. 'The BJP government erected the statue but didn't pay contractors once the work was completed. I don't want to dwell on that now. Our focus is on developing Bengaluru," he said. The statue, also called Pragatiya Pratime or the Statue of Prosperity, was sculpted by Padma Bhushan awardee Ram V Sutar, known for the Statue of Unity. It is made of 98 tonnes of bronze and 120 tonnes of steel. According to the World Book of Records, it is the tallest bronze statue of a city founder in the world. The idea for the statue was first proposed by former chief minister BS Yediyurappa after the BJP came to power and was implemented within months. As part of the tribute, mruthike (sacred soil) was collected from over 22,000 locations across Karnataka. Nadaprabhu Kempegowda, a chieftain under the Vijayanagara Empire who founded Bengaluru in 1537, is widely revered, especially by the Vokkaligas, Karnataka's second-largest and politically significant community. However, the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Foundation insists that the celebrations around him must emphasise inclusivity. 'Kempegowda may have been a Vokkaliga, but he built Bengaluru for everyone, including Telugu- and Tamil-speaking communities. He belongs to the whole city and represents development for all, not just one community. That's the perception we're trying to change," said Ashok KM Gowda of the foundation. 'They don't want to complete what was started by the BJP. The Congress fears that if they do, the people will know it was the BJP that deserves the credit." While the Congress government faces criticism for delays in completing the park, it has lined up elaborate celebrations to mark Kempegowda Jayanthi on June 27. The BBMP will organise a floral tribute at the statue near Kempegowda International Airport, followed by events at the BBMP office and the Vidhana Soudha. A symbolic lamp procession will be held from four historic city points—Lalbagh, Mehkri Circle, Kempambudhi Lake, and Ulsoor—converging at Sumanahalli Circle, where a new five-acre headquarters of the Kempegowda Heritage Authority will be constructed. Similar events are planned at historical sites in Magadi, Devanahalli, and Kunigal—all linked to Kempegowda's legacy. The Congress government said that the new Kempegowda Bhavan in Sumanahalli will reflect Bengaluru's rich cultural heritage. Meanwhile, questions linger over the stalled theme park—a key component of the original vision—that still lies in limbo. Former deputy CM and BJP leader Ashwath Narayan told News18 that while it is fine to celebrate Kempegowda, setting up the Kempegowda Development Authority, he also asked the Congress to complete the work that was pending around the Kempegowda statue. 'We welcome the work that is being done to commemorate Kempegowda, but at least have the courtesy to complete the work that was pending at the Kempegowda airport area. There is money earmarked; there are funds. Why not release it and finish it? They fear that the credit will go to the BJP, but Kempegowda was a ruler who embraced all," Narayan told News18. The statue's inauguration, held just ahead of the 2023 assembly elections, was also seen as a political move aimed at boosting BJP support in the Vokkaliga heartland of southern Karnataka, particularly after the party's 2019 KR Pete bypoll win in Mandya. But the election results didn't go as expected. And now, with the theme park unfinished, the spotlight is back on the incomplete legacy project, with politics once again at its centre. Location : Bengaluru, India, India First Published: June 27, 2025, 06:30 IST News politics 'Statue Of Prosperity' Stands Tall, But Kempegowda Theme Park Project Yet To Get Off The Ground
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
3 years on, Kempegowda park in Bengaluru yet to come to life
Bengaluru: Nearly three years since inauguration of the towering statue of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda near the airport in 2022, the city is still awaiting to see the 23-acre theme park planned around it come to life. While Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Heritage Area Development Authority's (NKHADA) officer in-charge Usha Rani brushed off queries about the delay saying, "We have so many other things to plan and we don't have time for this", preparations are in full swing to lay foundation stone for its new headquarters on the occasion of Kempegowda Jayanti on June 27. The authorities had targeted to build the park, which is part of the Rs 84-crore project, by 2024. But, NKHADA officials said a wrongly issued work order stalled the project for four months. A senior official said they hit a major hurdle—a gas pipeline beneath the land designated for the park connecting Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL). You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru "We had to wait for approvals to build a tunnel for the pipeline which took two-three months. Work on the tunnel has started and completion will take another seven months. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The tunnel will be tall enough for a six-foot man to walk through," the official added. MLA and former minister Dr CN Ashwath Narayan said: "This project could have been completed long ago. When basic infrastructure like this is ignored, and money is instead spent on commemorative events, one wonders about the priorities. They just don't want to finish what's already there—may be because they feel the credit will go to the previous (BJP) govt." The 108-foot Statue of Prosperity of city founder Nadaprabhu Kempegowda was unveiled near Kempegowda International Airport's Terminal 2 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Nov 2022. The Rs 62-crore statue was one of the two components of the project, with second being the park for which Rs 22 crore was earmarked. "It's not like they need new funds. The money is already there—they just need to act," Narayan said. A recent meeting between BBMP commissioner Maheshwar Rao and NKHADA yielded no clear roadmap for completion of the park. "The statue was built in seven months," Narayan said, adding: "But everything else is taking its own sweet time."
