Dharma Chakra set to be new landmark at Varadhi

Vijayawada: A giant Dharma Chakra, which reflects Buddhist Dharma, will be ready in a month to greet the passersby at Kanaka Durgamma Varadhi junction in Krishnalanka here where Chennai- Hyderabad national highway branches off from Chennai- Kolkata National Highway.

Amaravati Development Corporation (ADC) has taken up the project known as Amaravati- Vijayawada Gateway initiative at a cost of Rs 7.5 crore in August 2018.

The Dharma Chakra being installed at Varadhi junction has a radius of 30 feet and is bound to transform the outlook of Varadhi junction. Before installing the Dharma Chakra, a huge cement base has been built five metres in height for installation of Chakra. The Chakra has been carved by Rajasthani craftsmen. It has been brought to Vijayawada in pieces. They would be re-assembled and installed at the Varadhi Junction.

More than 70 per cent works related to the installation of the Chakra have been completed. ADC chairperson Lakshmi Parthasarathy said the 250 tonnes Chakra will be a great attraction at the Varadhi junction. She said that dynamic illumination would be provided and landscape works will be taken up very soon as part of the project.

The state government has accorded top priority to Buddhist structures in the capital region to reflect the 2000 years of Andhra Pradesh's history. Buddhism flourished in Andhra region for several centuries and many idols and stupas have been unearthed in many parts of the state during the excavations.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has reportedly directed the officials to complete the works by Sankranthi next month. The motorists on Chennai-Kolkata and Chennai-Howrah highways would get to see the Chakra in all its glory. The State government has also decided to develop the Varadhi junction as the Gateway for the capital city of Amaravati and Vijayawada.

This will be the second important Buddhist project in the capital region. A giant Dhyana Buddha project is already attracting a large number of domestic and foreign tourists at Amaravati in Guntur district for the last 10 years.