Maratha ruler made to play musical chairs

As airport officials plan to relocate Shivaji's statue from the the international airport to a warehouse section saying it is necessary for airport modernisation, BJP officials plan protest

Maratha ruler made to play musical chairs

As airport officials plan to relocate Shivaji's statue from the the international airport to a warehouse section saying it is necessary for airport modernisation, BJP officials plan protest

The row over moving the Shivaji statue at the international airport is expected to snowball, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) planning to hold a protest against it and the airport authorities adamant on the necessity of such a move.

The location on Western Express Highway near Hanuman Road signal,
Where the statue will be eventually moved. Pic/ Rane Ashish

MiDDAY had reported on March 11, 2011 that MIAL (Mumbai International Airport Private Limited) authorities had convinced state government officials that the statue was standing in the way of the airport's expansion.
MIAL officials say the statue will be temporarily moved to the Import Warehouse area in Sahar and later to an elevated spot at the junction of the Western Express Highway and the airport.

However, the BJP is not taking too kindly to the idea. According to local BJP district Vice President (North Central) N Sureshan, water pipelines pass beneath the proposed location in the Import Warehouse. "As per BMC Act guidelines, no construction can be done within 10 metres on either side of any underground water pipeline," he said.

Another reason for the BJP's objection is the location of the new spot at the Import Warehouse area. According to party officials, those who enter the airport will not be able to view the statue in its proposed spot. BJP officials are thus demanding that MIAL authorities place the statue at a prominent location, and inaugurate it in presence of senior leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Bal Thackeray.

According to Manish Kalghatgi, spokesperson for MIAL, the proposed site at the Import Warehouse area is only temporary. He said, "The integrated terminal project at Sahar is part of the airport modernisation project. Once we get the required permission, the statue will be shifted to the Warehouse location temporarily."

He added that eventually the statue will be shifted to an elevated area at the junction of the Western Express Highway and the airport. "Not only those who enter the airport but even those who use the Western Express Highway will get a prominent view of the statue," said Kalghatgi.