The proposed 125-foot bronze statue of Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee at Eco Park in New Town has moved closer to construction, with the West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation preparing to appoint an experienced sculptor or specialist statue-making agency for the project.
Once completed, the statue is expected to become the tallest monument to Dr Mukherjee in India. The proposed structure will use approximately 140 metric tonnes of bronze, with panels measuring between 8 and 10 millimetres in thickness. Construction will combine traditional lost-wax casting with modern production techniques.
The selected sculptor or agency will be required to complete the statue within about seven months of receiving the work order, according to the report. The appointment process is being handled by WBHIDCO, which has been designated as the nodal agency for the project.
The foundation stone for the proposed memorial was laid by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in July 2026 during an event marking Dr Mukherjee’s 125th birth anniversary. According to the Union Ministry of Culture, the programme at Eco Park included a ground-breaking ceremony and the unveiling of a foundation-stone plaque for the 125-foot bronze statue.
The project is planned as more than a standalone monument. The government intends to develop it as a city landmark and a heritage-tourism centre, supported by visitor infrastructure, essential public amenities and landscaped green areas. The stated objective is to attract visitors from across India and from overseas while creating a destination within the wider New Town urban district.
The scale of the proposal is substantially larger than the existing tallest statue of Dr Mukherjee identified in the report. That 65-foot statue is located in Lucknow, making the planned New Town monument almost twice as tall. The difference also places greater emphasis on the design, fabrication, installation and visitor-management requirements that will follow the sculptor’s appointment.
For Eco Park, the proposal adds a major commemorative and tourism component to an already prominent public space in New Town. Its eventual public role will depend on the completion of the statue, the delivery of supporting visitor facilities and the next stages of implementation by WBHIDCO. The immediate milestone is the appointment of the sculptor or specialist agency, followed by the issue of the work order and the proposed seven-month construction period.
