Shivaji Maharaj statue: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has stated for the first time the collapse of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, and told where the mistake was made in its construction, due to which the statue fell.

Shivaji Maharaj statue: The 35-foot-high statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra fell after strong winds on 26 August. After this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologized during a rally in Palghar on 30 September and said that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is not just a Maharaja, but is worshipable. After the statue fell, there was a lot of politics in Maharashtra and the opposition was constantly attacking the government. Now Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said a big thing about the statue of Shivaji Maharaj and told which mistake caused the statue to fall.

If stainless steel had been used the statue would not have fallen

Union Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said that if stainless steel had been used in the construction of Shivaji Maharaj's statue in Sindhudurg, it would not have fallen. He stressed the need to use anti-corrosion products in coastal areas. At a FICCI event, he said, 'I have been insisting for the last three years that stainless steel should be used in the construction of bridges near the sea. When I (minister in Maharashtra) was working on the construction of 55 flyovers in Mumbai, a person fooled me. He applied powder coating on iron rods and said that they were rust-proof... but they rusted. Now I think stainless steel should be used in all roads within 30 kilometers of the sea. If stainless steel had been used for the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji, it would never have fallen.

Lookout notice against sculptor

The Sindhudurg police have issued a lookout notice against sculptor Jaydeep Apte, who has been missing for over a week after the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue collapsed at Rajkot Fort in Malvan. Last week, the Malvan police filed an FIR against Apte and structural engineer Chetan Patil under various sections of the Indian Justice Code. Patil is in police custody till September 5, while Apte is still in hiding.

Shivaji Maharaj's statue fell in 266 days

Let us tell you that on 4 December 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 35-foot-high statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra. 266 days later, on 26 August 2024, this statue of Shivaji Maharaj fell due to strong winds. After this, on 30 August, PM Modi apologized for this during a rally in Palghar.