Rashtriya Smriti Sthal, the designated site for the last rites of presidents, vice-presidents, and prime ministers, and an area near Kisan Ghat, the memorial of India’s fifth PM Chaudhary Charan Singh, are being considered for the memorial of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The final decision on the location is expected in the coming days, according to reports.

Manmohan Singh passed away on 26th December at the age of 92 and will soon be remembered by a memorial. Both of the potential sites are located near the Yamuna River, so they constitute important landmarks in the heritage landscape of Delhi.

BJP President, J.P. Nadda, confirmed on Saturday, “given the space for Singh’s memorial and has also informed his family about it.” While the exact location is yet to be disclosed, further details are expected soon.

A government source, quoted by The Times of India, explained that the process typically involves allocating space to a society for the development and maintenance of the memorial, which can take some time.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, in a recent interview, hinted that the government is considering allocating a larger space for the memorial, reflecting Singh’s immense contributions to the nation.

Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri recently indicated that the government wants to increase the space at the site where the memorial is expected to be installed. His reasoning was on account of the massive services that were provided by this person in his life span.

Under existing norms, Rashtriya Smriti Sthal is the most likely location for Singh’s memorial. This site, completed in 2015, has been the resting place for several dignitaries, including former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao.

New memorials have been a contentious issue. In 2000, the government curtailed new memorials as the land resources were dwindling. The 18 existing memorials- the Raj Ghat, Shanti Van, and Kisan Ghat, among others- occupy more than 245 acres of prime land in Delhi.

Despite these constraints, the government may grant an exemption to pay homage to Singh, whose legacy as India's 13th prime minister is popularly celebrated. A political deliberation would be involved in the decision to allocate a "bigger" space for the memorial.

Manmohan Singh's memorial will find its place among historical landmarks that celebrate India's leaders, making sure that their contributions are remembered for generations.