NEW DELHI: The government has decided to set up a memorial for former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee , sources said.

Although the former PM will be cremated at Rashtriya Smriti Sthal, common site for performing the last rites of national leaders, including past and serving Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Prime Ministers and other leaders, the Modi government has decided to build a memorial for Vajpayee, as a member of the Union cabinet put it, “ to mark his immense contributions to the country.”

“He (Atalji) was a leader of extraordinary stature. Something ought to be done in recognition of his service to nation,” a senior government functionary said.

The plan to construct the memorial did not figure in the meeting of the Union Cabinet on Thursday to condole the death of the former PM, but sources said that a decision had been taken.

There was speculation that a part of Smriti Sthal itself could be carved out for the proposed memorial for Vajpayee, but there was no confirmation.

In 2013, then UPA government had decided to develop Smriti Sthal considering that VVIP samadhis including Rajghat, Shanti Van, Shakti Sthal, Veer Bhumi, Ekta Sthal, Samta Sthal and Kisan Ghat occupied more than 245 acres of prime land in Delhi. It was completed in 2015.

Though the government had taken a decision way back in 2000 not to develop any special ‘ samadhi ’ for VIPs, it took 13 years to earmark a single place for this purpose.

Former PM Narsimha Rao was the first one to get a “samadhi” (resting) place in 2015 here, though his family had to wait for 10 years.

The government could have considered the option of building a memorial in Lutyens’ Zone, but would find itself hindered by the decision it took in 2014 not to allow conversion of LBZ bungalows into memorials.

