Kolhapur, Sindhudurg, Apr 25 (UNI) The installation work of 83-foot tall statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot in Malvan tehsil of Sindhudurg district has been completed at a place where a similar statue had collapsed on August 26, 2024.
Mahendra Keni, excutive engineer of the construction, said the government has taken special precautions while installing the new statue. An Australia company tested the statue against a high-wind speed of 200 km per hour on the Malvan Beech. The work of installing the statue has started, Keni said.
The work on the new statue was given to the company of famous painter Ram Sutar, who has taken special precautions. Before starting the work of installing the statue, Sutar studied the geographical conditions of the place. Since the Malvan coast has high wind speed, he had first made a much smaller statue of Shivaji and sent it to Australia.
The Australia company tested how the statue would respond to wind speed, Keni told UNI.
The statue, which is being installed at Rajkot Fort, is 83-foot tall and weighs 40 tons. Its platform is ten feet high (total 93 feet). This statue is made of bronze. It contains 88 per cent copper and eight per cent iron. The sword in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's hand weighs 2,300 kg.
Sawantwadi Construction Department is monitoring the work of installing the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, while famous painter Ram Sutar is also visiting Rajkot Fort from time-to-time to review the work.
There are moves to inaugurate the newly constructed Shiva statue at Rajkot Fort on May 1, the Maharashtra Day. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and many cabinet ministers are expected to be present on the occasion.
On December 4, 2023, on the occasion of Navy Day, the fort was reconstructed and a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was erected at the Malvan Rajkot Fort. The statue was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Six months later, on August 26, 2024, the statue had suddenly collapsed.
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