28.4.14

Shivaji Memorial update

The Maharashtra state public works department has issued a tender to appoint a consultant to erect the 190-metre Chhatrapati Shivaji statue in Arabian Sea, off the Marine Drive.
The project has been on the Congress-NCP’s manifesto for last 10 years. With the assembly polls scheduled to be held later this year, the government has decided to expedite the work, said sources.
The estimated cost of the memorial is Rs.1500 crore. It will be slightly taller than the proposed Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel statue (182 mts) in Gujarat.
According officials, they have formed a committee comprising architects from BMC, MMRDA, and the principal of Sir JJ College of architecture to handle the project. The state’s chief architect is not a part this committee.
“The committee will scrutinise the proposals submitted by various firms. The deadline to submit the application is April 30,” said a senior government official.
Earlier, the plan for the memorial had been developed by Mumbai based firm Team One, but was shelved by NCP leader and Mumbai city’s guardian minister Jayant Patil. Later, the designing work was allotted to the JJ College of Architecture. The initial height of the memorial was 98.
The memorial will rise on 7.5 acres of reclaimed land. It will also museum to exhibit artefacts, history and murals on Shivaji, dancing fountains, amphitheatre, auditorium, aquarium. Besides there will be other facilities water adventure sports.
Moreover, the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute and National Institute of Oceanography have been asked to prepare an environmental impact assessment report. “Once we get report from the project management committee, then we will submit the proposal for the approval of the Ministry of Environment and Forests,” said a PWD official.

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