Mumbai: Bal Thackeray memorial site to have cafeteria, gallery

The memorial will come up at the Mayor's residence. File pic

Nearly two years after a memorial for Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray was proposed at the Mayor's bungalow at Shivaji Park in Dadar, the project finally seems to be making headway with a tentative design in place. The proposed memorial will have a water body, a cafeteria, photo gallery and a ticket counter. This means that visiting the place will come at a fee.

Also read: Sena scrapes through final clearance for proposed Bal Thackeray memorial at Mayor's Bungalow

The initial plans for the memorial were discussed at a presentation made in front of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis during a meeting yesterday. The presentation also highlighted that glimpses of Thackeray's journey would be displayed at the memorial.

Earlier, Sena sources had revealed that there would be a gallery within the bungalow, where his cartoons, and photos from his political career, would be displayed. Sources revealed that the memorial might not have a statue of Thackeray, as Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray was not keen on having one within the premises.

"After reviewing the project, the CM asked the state environment ministry, urban development department and BMC to coordinate and come up with a detailed project report (DPR) at the earliest," said Subhash Desai, senior Sena leader and state industries minister, who is also the general secretary of the public trust formed for the development of memorial.

The plot proposed for the memorial falls under Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and thus, needs special attention from the environment department. Consultants will be appointed to prepare the DPR on war-footing, revealed sources.

When contacted, a BMC official, requesting anonymity, said, "The presentation was very basic. We have been given instructions to help the trust spearheading the project, get easy approvals as the structure also falls within the heritage category."

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