BMC general body nod to build Bal Thackeray statue at Fort

MUMBAI: The proposal for the construction of the statue of the l ate Shiv Sena f ounder Bal Thackeray at MG Road, Fort, was cleared unopposed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) general body on Tuesday.

The nine-foot-tall statue will come up on the triangular traffic junction opposite the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (museum) on MG Road. Earlier, the BMC had proposed the statue at the junction opposite to Maharashtra State Police Headquarters along the fountain situated on the roundabout towards Regal Cinema. However, the general body sought a change in the location to MG Road, owing to technical problems.

The statue was said to be unveiled for the public on January 23, which marks the birth anniversary of the late Sena chief. However, civic officials said the dates might be pushed forward owing to some pending approvals.

Vishaka Raut, leader of house in the civic body, said, “The dates for public viewing of the statue has not been finalised yet. However, it will be decided soon.”

Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday said that if the cons t ruction of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar memorial is taken up as a “challenge”, it is possible to complete the project in two years as stipulated by deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar.

“If everyone related to the project takes it as a challenge and if all the requisite permissions are in place, then completing the memorial in two years is possible,” Pawar said, after reviewing the ongoing work of the ₹1,090 crore project, along with minority affairs minister Nawab Malik, and social justice minister Dhananjay Munde.