Shiv Smarak

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Smarak or Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial is a monument under construction dedicated to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj , the 17th century Indian warrior king and founder of the Maratha Empire. The statue will be located in Arabian Sea, near the coast of Mumbai, Maharashtra.[3]

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Smarak
Coordinates18.9274°N 72.7910°E / 18.9274; 72.7910
LocationArabian Sea, Mumbai, India
DesignerRam V. Sutar
TypeStatue
MaterialSteel framing, reinforced concrete
Height212 metres (696 ft) Total height including pedestal[1][2]
Beginning date24 December 2016 (2016-12-24)
Opening date2021 (planned)
Dedicated toChhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
WebsiteOfficial website
Proposed location of Shiv Smarak in Back Bay

Specifications
The memorial will be dedicated to Shivaji

The statue will be located facing Mumbai's Girgaum Chowpatty beach, 1.5 km away on a manmade island of rocks.[4] The statue will be 126 meters (413 ft) in height, placed on top of a 84 m (276 ft) pedestal,[5] making the total height of the monument 212 m (696 ft).[6] Statue was initially planned for 192 metres, however was increased to 212 metres as the state government wanted to keep the statue as the tallest competing against an upcoming statue Spring Temple Buddha in China.[7] The project area is planned to be spread over 130,000 square metres (1,400,000 sq ft). It is expected to be completed in 2021. Initially the total cost of the project was estimated to be about ₹3,826 crore (US$540 million), but cost-reduction measures have resulted in a contract worth 2500 crores.[5][8]

The completed vision of the project will include visitor centre buildings, a memorial garden, a library, food court, and convention centre with room for approximately 10,000 people.[9] The memorial will also have a museum, exhibition gallery, amphitheater, helipad, and hospital. The memorial will showcase replicas of Shivaji's forts.

Status
Prime Minister, Narendra Modi performing a Jal Pujan ritual, asking the deities to bless the location of the future statue. 24 December 2016.

Volunteers have collected water from various rivers in the state and soil from Shivaji's forts for the foundation-stone laying ceremony on 24 December 2016 by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.[10][11]

Egis in India has been appointed the Project Management Consultant.[12] Egis in India is the local arm of the France-based Egis group.[13]

The Koli fishing community staged protests and they fear that they will lose their livelihood.[14]

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray suggested that the money could be better utilised for the development and maintenance of the forts and palaces in Maharashtra, many built during the reign of Shivaji maharaj.[15]

Initial plans for the project called for the foundation to be built from reclaimed basalt and rubble from the Colaba–SEEPZ metro tunnel.[3] However, due to delays associated with the monument, the rubble is no longer reserved for the monument, and is being transported to quarries for storage.[16]

On 1 March 2018, a Letter of Acceptance was issued to the contracting firm Larsen & Toubro.[8]

See also

References
  1. "Cost cutting: For Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj memorial, Maharashtra makes sculpture shorter, sword taller". The Indian Express. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  2. "Fadnavis govt retains Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue as world's tallest, increases height after China's Buddha statue competes". India Today. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  3. "Shivaji Memorial in the Arabian Sea: Statue to tower on green foundation". The Indian Express. 24 December 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  4. "Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue: India is about to spend over $50000 million on a statue in the middle of the Arabian sea". Qz.com. 23 December 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  5. India, Press Trust of (7 March 2018). "Maha govt reduced Shivaji maharaj statue height to 126 metres: Chavan". Business Standard India. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  6. Safi, Michael (14 September 2018). "India to break record for world's largest statue … twice". the Guardian. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  7. "ShivSmarak: Maharashtra government wants to increase the height of the memorial". Mumbai Mirror. Press Trust of India. 25 November 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  8. "Cost cutting: For Shivaji maharaj memorial, Maharashtra makes sculpture shorter, sword taller". The Indian Express. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  9. "Shiv Smarak in Mumbai: PM Narendra Modi to perform bhoomi pooja for Shivaji maharaj statue tomorrow". The Economic Times. 23 December 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  10. Dr Uday S Kulkarni (24 December 2016). "A memorial in the sea | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". Dnaindia.com. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  11. "Narendra Modi performs 'bhoomipujan' of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue". M.economictimes.com. 24 December 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  12. "EGIS India to help plan Shivaji maharaj memorial". Hindustan Times. 25 February 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  13. "Our Management". Egis group. 16 April 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  14. Nachiket Tekawade (25 December 2016). "Ahead of PM's visit, fisherfolk protest". thehindu.com. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  15. "Ahead of PM's visit, fisherfolk detained". The Hindu. 25 December 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  16. Chacko, Benita (1 April 2017). "Shivaji maharaj memorial: Mumbai Metro 3 rubble unlikely to be used". The Indian Express. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
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