No space for ‘samadhis’, VVIPs to share memorial place in Delhi

There will be no separate samadhis for VVIPs in Delhi as the government in May 2013 decided to have a common complex for memorials of departed national leaders like presidents, vice presidents and prime ministers.

The Union Cabinet cleared a proposal to set up the ‘Rashtriya Smriti’ along the Yamuna river in central Delhi in view of the paucity of space as nearly 245 acres of prime land in the national capital has already been occupied by separate samadhis of former leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.

Rashtriya Smriti’ near the Ekta Sthal, the samadhi of former President Giani Zail Singh, has now been earmarked for performing last rites of departed national leaders in the future and for setting up their memorials, besides space for public gatherings.

In the past, separate memorials for departed national leaders were created near Rajghat.

The proposal for a common memorial ground had first been mooted in 2000 but it was pending. “Henceforth, the government shall not develop any samadhi for departed leaders,” the proposal had said.

The VVIP memorials of nation’s political leaders occupy around 245 acres of prime land along the banks of Yamuna.(old reference -May 16, 2013)
(old reference and updated on December 2025 for information and knowledge for every Indians)