Gandhi Maidan facelift by Aug 15

PATNA: The beautification work of Gandhi Maidan here will be completed before the Independence Day this year. Patna district administration is all set to install a 40-feet-high statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the historic ground, as promised by CM Nitish Kumar.
Patna divisional commissioner K P Ramaiah on Thursday ordered that the Maidan would remain closed for visitors from July 15 to August 14, except for morning walkers.All the gates would remain closed and guards would be deployed by the Patna police to enforce ban on the entry of people, if required.
The building construction department (BCD) has been entrusted with the task to replace the existing Gandhi statue at the ground with a bigger one. Ramaiah said, "A meeting with the chief secretary is scheduled for July 19 and the model of the new Gandhi statue would be finalized. If the new statue is not installed before August 15, the existing statue could be shifted to the centre of the maidan." He added the existing Gandhi statue is not centrally located.
When contacted, BCD chief engineer, South Bihar, Gopal Krishna, said, "The 40-feet-tall bronze statue is being prepared by famous sculptor, Padmashri Ram V Sutar at Noida." He added the department has been allotted Rs 8.40 crore for the new statue.
After Bihar Diwas celebrations earlier in the year, Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) had requested the district administration not to hold any programme at the ground, so that its levelling could be done without hindrance. Patna DM Sanjay Kumar Singh said the officials concerned had finished levelling and grading of the ground by June 20. The next step would be the construction of a pathway, laying of grass bed and planting of small flower trees. "We plan to finish the rest of the work before Independence Day," he said.
Ramaiah said, "Rehearsals for the Independence Day would take place from August 1 to August 13 at the Gandhi Maidan. Other departments concerned have been asked to improve the drainage system and beautification work will be completed in time."