New Delhi, Aug 3 - Construction of the National War Memorial has been in a limbo for the last five decades due to the delay by the urban development ministry in allotting a land for it, the defence ministry said Monday.

The memorial, designed by noted architect Charles Correa, would be the first to commemorate the sacrifice of thousands of Indian soldiers in World War II and the wars that India has fought since independence.

However, the proposal to build the memorial close to India Gate has been gathering dust since the urban development ministry objected to it.

'The ministry of defence has requested the ministry of urban development to assign the requisite land. Since the construction of the National War Memorial is contingent upon the allotment of land by the ministry of urban development, that ministry has to expedite,' Minister of State for Defence M.M.