After years delay,Shivaji statue moved in a night operation

After dithering for more than a year in the face of protests,including by the Shiv Sena,the Chief Ministers Office had approved the relocation of the statue on August 17. The next day,the Collector wrote to MIAL permitting the relocation.

We implemented the order as soon as possible,in less than 2 weeks, said Nirmal Deshmukh,the Suburban District Collector. In the previous location,the statue was 100 per cent invisible. It was surrounded by new construction on all sides,no one could see the statue. We have just relocated it to a more prominent location.

He added that the transportation of the 3.5-metre bronze statue was done at night because the traffic then is at its lowest.

All the stakeholders were informed and consulted. The current location of the statue is more prominent and the total area of the compound is double of what it was in the previous location, said Anindita Sinha,MIAL spokesperson.

While Shiv Sena leaders said they were not aware of the relocation,they hinted that the government may have taken the party leadership into confidence. MIAL has promised to build a grander monument for Shivaji on the Western Express Highway,which would include a Shivaji museum.

MIAL wanted the statue relocated for construction of an integrated Terminal 2.