A sneak peek into The Phoenix: The futuristic memorial in Jayalalithaa's memory

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam laid the foundation stone for a memorial 'mandapam' of late J Jayalalithaa on Monday. The mandapam is set to come up abutting her burial site on the Marina beachfront.

While Palaniswami placed the first brick for the construction on the ground, Panneerselvam placed the second, thus marking the formal inauguration of work for the memorial at the beach complex.

This proposed structure is set to come up behind former Chief Minister MG Ramachandran's memorial and the state government has an ambitious design in mind for the it.

The designs released by the government is titled 'The Phoenix' and the main edifice is wing-shaped with two lions at the entrance to the structure. They have planned to included manicured gardens on the sides and back of the structure which will be closed off to the beach. The memorial looks futuristic and is primarily white in colour.

Reports suggest that the memorial would have rare pictures of the cinema and political journey of Jayalalithaa. It will have pictures of her with national and international leaders and her interactions with people from various walks of life.

The proposal submitted by the Public Works Department (PWD) to the Tamil Nadu State Coastal Zone Management Authority (TNSCZMA) was submitted last month after it ticked the boxes under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification.

The total cost of the project is estimated to come up to Rs 50.8 crore.  

The PWD has planned to demolish 630 sq m of existing building to complete the first phase and then retain 885 sq m of existing construction, as per The Hindu report. 

The monument itself will reportedly rise up to 15m and spread over 30 x 42 m. It has a curvilinear shape reminiscent of the two leaves symbol that the party possesses. In addition to this a knowledge park and museum will also be built on the site.

CRZ clearance has, however, been given with certain conditions. These reportedly demand that there will be no ground water extraction, the monument should have adequate rain water harvesting structures and a greenbelt has to be developed. The memorial building will further be constructed in accordance with the seismic factors applicable to the moderate intensity zone.