Open for visitors, war memorial still incomplete

Inaugurated by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal amid much fanfare, the ambitious Punjab State War Heroes Memorial and Museum is incomplete.

Though the memorial cum museum built over 8 acres is thrown open for public, but the visitors have an access just to open areas and not the galleries depicting various battles and also the doors of the 7D theater are closed for the tourists till now.

Inaugurated on October 23, the project is built at a cost of Rs 130 crore and it may take some time before it is fully operational.

A visit to the memorial revealed that construction was in full swing with the labourers working at various sites in the museum. Debris were scattered at various spots and also the construction material was all over the place.

This clearly showed that the Government rushed to get the project inaugurated even when it was incomplete.

The cafeteria which was part of the project is also still not operational.

Though, the tourists can see the 45-metre high sword, tanks, aircraft and the landscaping done there, the galleries which depict various battles from historical times till the Kargil War are yet to be opened.

Amritsar deputy commissioner Varun Roojam said, “Only two out of eight galleries have been completed. But I assure that whole museum will be ready in 15 days. The tourists can visit the outer area and I will soon ensure that the 7D theater is also opened by the weekend.”

On a question, the DC said tickets would only be charged once the memorial cum museum is fully open.