On board hovercraft, PM modi lays foundation stone for Rs. 3,600 crore shivaji memorial

Mangalore Today News Network

Mumbai, Dec 24, 2016: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today laid the foundation stone for the grand memorial of Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on board a hovercraft in the Arabian Sea off Mumbai coast.

The main feature of the Shivaji memorial, slated to cost Rs. 3,600 crore, will be a 192-metre-tall statue of the iconic Maratha king. The site is a rocky outcrop, roughly 1.5 km from the Raj Bhavan shore.

Along with PM Modi, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and BJP ally Shiv Sena’s chief Uddhav Thackeray were also present on board the hovercraft.

Earlier today, the PM had tweeted from Delhi: "I am honoured to be getting the opportunity to perform the bhoomipujan of Shiv Smarak."

The Prime Minister’s visit assumes political significance as the high-stake elections to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) are just a few months away.

Mr Fadnavis had recently said the ’Shiv Smarak’ will not only be the tallest memorial in the country, but in the entire world and had thanked PM Modi for "making it possible."

The memorial project has been facing stiff opposition from fishermen and environmentalists, who have alleged that it would affect marine life and ecology of the Arabian Sea. The fishermen community leaders, however, decided not to protest further after meeting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who assured them that their concerns will be addressed.

The Prime Minister is on a day-long visit to Maharashtra and will now head to Pune, where he will lay the foundation stone of the Pune Metro Rail project at the Agriculture College ground there. NCP leader Sharad Pawar will share the stage with Prime Minister Modi at this event.