It is barely two months since the boat tragedy at the Shivaji memorial site boat that capsized killed one youngster. However, that didn't deter Shiv Smarak Samiti Chief and Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Vinayak Mete to visit the Shivaji memorial site and perform equipment pooja. He ventured to the location amidst high tide and choppy waves along with a select few of his supporters. The actual work for the proposed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj memorial at Arabian sea would commence in next 3-4 days. Mete informed that following this invocation the work at the memorial will be carried on unabatedly. Mete was slated to take a few journalists along with him however chose to go along with a few of his supporters to ensure caution. On Thursday Mete instead of coming to Gateway of India chose to reach the proposed site from Bhaucha Dhakka jetty and took a handful of his trusted political workers with him. Due to rough weather, he reached late on the rock and came back only in the late night. He made it amply clear that today was only an equipment pooja before the actual work begins in less than a week. The Shivaji Maharaj memorial, Rs. 2,500 crore project has a 36-month completion period and will come upon a 15.96-hectare rocky basalt outcrop in the Arabian Sea 1.2 km south west of Raj Bhawan. Once completed, it will be the world's tallest statue at 212 meters. An area of around 10 hectares will be developed on the rock for the memorial and facilities in two phases. The state wants the statue to rise to 212 meters so that it is 2 meters taller than the Spring Temple Buddha in Henan, China, which is the world's tallest statue.

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