Shivaji statue at gateway to miss its repair deadline

The municipal corporation will miss the deadline set by it to repair the dilapidated pedestal on which the Shivaji statute stands at Gateway of India, as work on its restoration has not even begun.

The municipal corporation will miss the deadline set by it to repair the dilapidated pedestal on which the Shivaji statute stands at Gateway of India, as work on its restoration has not even begun.

HT Image

For over a year the BMC and the state’s Archaeology and Museum department were fighting over whose jurisdiction that statue falls in and who should take the responsibility of its repairs. However, the political leadership of the BMC said that since it’s the Maratha Warrior, the BMC would take up the repairs. The standing committee chairman had said the work would be completed by January 26. However, the work order is yet to issued.

The HT had in August reported how both the state and BMC were bickering over the issue.

“We might not be able to repair the statue by January 26. But we will try to complete the work before February 19, which is Shivaji Jayanti,” said an official said. The statue was crafted by sculptor Sadanand Sathe and inaugurated by the first chief minister Yeshwantrao Chavan in 1960s.