Hyderabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unveil a 30-feet bronze statue of Alluri Sitarama Raju in a park in ASR Nagar in Bhimavaram town. He is a freedom fighter who fought against the British Empire and lost his life for the sake of tribals residing in the area of Manyam which is located in East Godavari district.

Union Government is celebrating Azaadi-Ka-Amrutostvav programme on the occasion of the 75 years of Independence celebrations which remembers the great freedom fighters. Alluri Sitarama Raju’s 125^th birthday celebrations too would be held the day. The Union Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs and the state government have sanctioned Rs 14 crore for the programme. The Kshatriya Seva Samithi’s Andhra Pradesh and Telangana units and the Alluri Sitarama Raju Seva Samithi (ASRS) are making the arrangements along with Government officials.

According to the sculptors, 16 kilos of bronze was used for the statue, which was brought to Bhimavaram town last night from Vijayawada. They said the 30-feet bronze statue was crafted within 30 days. The officials are constructing a special bridge across Vempadu canal to clear the route for the Prime Minister to reach the spot directly, and a helipad at Pedaamiram village.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will felicitate 36 families of freedom fighters on the occasion.  Alluri Seetharama Raju of Agarru village in Palakollu mandal donated Rs 3 crore for sculpting and installing the bronze statue.

The Alluri Seethaarama Raju (ASR) Seva Samithi president Gadiraju Subba Raju said the area where the Alluri Seetharama Raju statue is installed in ASR Nagar in Bhimavaram would be developed as a tourism spot. He said the Kshatriya Seva Samithi and ASR Samithi have not been waiting for the government funds and the works are being done on an urgent basis now to complete them before the PM’s arrival.