Nearly three years after the unveiling of the 108-foot statue of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda near Kempegowda International Airport, the promised 23-acre heritage theme park around it remains incomplete, drawing criticism and public frustration.
The Rs 84-crore Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Heritage Project, split between Rs 62 crore for the statue and Rs 22 crore for the park, was expected to be completed by 2024. However, officials from the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Heritage Area Development Authority (NKHADA) blame administrative delays and unforeseen technical hurdles.
A work order error had stalled construction for four months, and later, the discovery of a gas pipeline underneath the project site—connecting to Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL)—required a tunnel to be approved and constructed. A senior official noted that approvals for the tunnel took 2–3 months, and construction has now begun, expected to be completed in seven months.
Despite this, when asked about the slow progress, NKHADA officer Usha Rani dismissed concerns, saying, “We have so many other things to plan.”
Former minister Dr CN Ashwath Narayan criticized the inaction: “The statue was completed in seven months, but the park is still pending because they don’t want credit to go to the previous (BJP) government.” He added that funding is not an issue and accused the current administration of misplaced priorities.
Even a recent meeting between BBMP Commissioner Maheshwar Rao and NKHADA brought no clear resolution. Meanwhile, preparations are underway to lay the foundation stone for NKHADA’s new office on Kempegowda Jayanti, June 27.