Mumbai to get sixth Shivaji statue outside CST

Mumbai has five other statues of the Maratha ruler, at Gateway, Dadar, Juhu, Chembur and the airport, while a sixth is proposed in the Arabian sea; JJ school to propose designs

This weekend, work could begin on yet another statue of the Maratha king Shivaji — this one outside the railway station named after him.

A statue of the Maratha king at the Gateway of India. (HT)

There are five other statues of the Maratha ruler on public land across Mumbai — Gateway of India, Mumbai international airport, Dadar’s Shivaji Park, Juhu beach and Chembur — while one more has been planned in the middle of the Arabian Sea.

The newest statue will be built at the entrance of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, on the P D’mello Road side, and is estimated to cost the state government Rs1.5 crore.

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Officials said Union railways minister Suresh Prabhu will most likely be in the city on Sunday to lay the foundation stone of the statue. Sources said the statue will be designed by the JJ School of Arts, which has already suggested three designs to Central Railway authorities, who have sent it forward to the Railway Board for approval.

Government approvals for this statue comes 21 years after the Victoria Terminus was renamed after Shivaji. For years now, there have been demands for a Shivaji statue or build a memorial at the station, a CR official said.

“The statue is likely to be constructed within a year,” the official said.

According to the CR, part of Prabhu’s agenda during his visit is also officially changing the names of two stations — adding ‘Maharaj’ to CST and renaming the Elphinstone Road station as Prabhadevi.