The Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC) has approved a proposal to install his bronze statue at Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi.
The proposal, forwarded by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), now awaits final clearance from the Central government. The DUAC’s approval, documented in its March 27 meeting minutes, includes recommendations for site enhancements such as repairing broken pavements and installing appropriate lighting to ensure visibility at night.
The initiative to install the statue was reportedly initiated by the PV Narasimha Rao Memorial Foundation, which approached the NDMC in April 2024, requesting a site at either Andhra Bhavan or Telangana Bhavan. The foundation proposed placing the statue adjacent to that of Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu, the first Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. However, officials from both Telangana Bhavan and the NDMC have indicated that the proposal did not originate from their offices. A Telangana Bhavan official mentioned that the state government is planning a new dedicated Bhavan on Ashoka Road, making the statue installation premature at this stage.
If the Centre grants approval, this would be the third major honour bestowed upon PV Narasimha Rao by the BJP-led NDA government. In 2015, the Union government approved a memorial for him at Ekta Sthal in the Rajghat Complex, and in February 2024, he was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour. The proposed statue serves not only as a tribute to Rao’s contributions but also as a symbol of political acknowledgment of his complex legacy. As the final decision rests with the Centre, the installation’s timing and location remain contingent on further approvals
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