18 feet Biju Patnaik statue unveiled at BPIA of Odisha capital

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Mar 5:

After a three year long wait, an 18 feet Biju Patnaik statue installed by the Culture Department of Odisha Government was unveiled today at the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) of Odisha capital.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik unveiled the statue of his father– touted to be the tallest in the state – on his birth centenary.

Originally planned to be unveiled on March 5, 2013, the project got delayed because of various reasons including clearance from airport authorities and funding.

The statue has been built at a cost of cost Rs 19 lakh. The huge sculpture will welcome the visitors entering and leaving the airport. A model of Dakota, the plane Biju Patnaik flew as a pilot, has already been placed at the international airport.

Prior to the city airport got the international airport tag, the state government had envisaged to install the statuette. The state Culture Department had mooted the programmed but it took three years to turn it into a reality.

An organization named Electro Media was given the job of creation and installation of the 18 feet full body bronze figure of Biju Patnaik. The newly-installed statue is hardly 200 metre away from another statue of the legendary leader which stands tall in front of the domestic airport terminal.

Notably, various events have been planned by Odisha Government and Biju Janata Dal to remember the departed soul today. It includes Panchayati Raj Divas celebration by the government and a huge public meeting at Baramunda by the party.