Andhra Pradesh: 36-ft NTR statue to be unveiled on Friday in Sattenapalle

SATTENAPALLE: In the season of tall statues, N Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP seems keen not to be left behind of its political competitors. After planning to erect a tower at the new Andhra Pradesh assembly building which will be taller than the Statue of Unity, Naidu’s party has installed a towering statue of former chief minister and TDP founder NT Rama Rao in the middle of a massive water pond in Sattenapalle town of Guntur district.

The 36-ft tall NTR bronze statue has been mounted on 40-ft tall pedestal making it one of the tallest statues in the state. It has been designed and decked up almost on the lines of Budha statue in Hussain Sagar of Hyderabad as the gigantic statue is located in the middle of the water stream. The statue was not given any straight access to with walkway. It can be reached only through boating. A half-circle gallery has been created for the visitors to take a trip and touch the feet of yesteryears matinee idol.

Assembly speaker Dr Kodela Sivaprasada Rao, who came into active public life thanks to the support extended by NTR, says that it was his way of paying tribute to his mentor.

Dr Kodela Sivaprasada Rao, an ace surgeon, jumped into the electoral battleground after NTR offered him a ticket to contest the 1983 assembly elections and won five successive elections from Narasaraopet constituency.

After his native place Kandlagunta in Nakirekallu mandal merged with Sattenapalle constituency during 2009 delimitation of constituencies process, Dr Kodela Sivaprasada Rao shifted his base to Sattenapalle and won 2014 elections.
Even while the state government is ready grappling to ready the designs of NTR statue project in Amaravati, Dr Kodela prevailed upon the CRDA officials and got the NTR statue and lake ready in Sattenapalle. Curiously, Dr Kodela took up the project at the insistence of his son and youth TDP leader Dr Kodela Sivaram.
Dr Sivaram closely reviewed the designs of the NTR sagar project along with his father and brought some changes to make it a tourist hub.
Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu will be unveiling the NTR statue and inaugurate the NTR sagar on Friday, said Dr Kodela. He said that CM would also lay foundation stone for Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV) construction with a cost of Rs 30 crore. CM would also lay foundation stone for Rs 90 crore Rail-Over-Bridge to connect Sattenapalle with Atchampet.