The state government will raise the mid-sea Shivaji Memorial height by 2 metre — from 210 metres to 212 metres after a high-powered committee gave a nod. The committee has been set up to overview the mid-sea statute. The committee has also sanctioned an additional amount of ₹81 crore for the same. With this, the project cost will go up from ₹2,500 crore to ₹2,581 crore including goods and services tax, or GST.
In a meeting convened by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, it was decided that the pedestal of the memorial would be increased by 2 meters to bear the load of the bronze statue. Officials added that the work will begin after the monsoon. Meanwhile, the state government has also sent a proposal to the environment ministry for its clearance.
The original height of the statue was planned to be 192 metres, then the state government decided to increase its height to 210 metres and now to 212 metres to balance the design.
The said project is to be built on 6.8 hectares in the middle of the Arabian Sea off Malabar Hill in South Mumbai. Initially, the cost of the project is ₹260 Cr which later escalated to ₹3,600 Cr.
Meanwhile, various citizens’ groups are objecting to the project citing it as a wasteful expenditure. Fishermen are also opposing to the project and have approached the National Green Tribunal with their complaints.
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