Mumbai | The land earmarked in Mumbai for the memorial of late Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray will be transferred by the city civic body to the trust set up to construct the structure at an event on Wednesday.
The Shiv Sena is organising the event on Wednesday, on the occasion of Bal Thackeray’s birth anniversary, at the city mayor’s bungalow, which is going to convert into a museum as part of the memorial structure.
The event is expected to be attended by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) chief Ajoy Mehta and members of ‘Balasaheb Thackeray Rashtriya Smarak Nyas’ (trust), including BJP MP Poonam Mahajan, a source said.
Some leaders want Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be invited for the memorial’s ‘bhoomipujan’, which is likely to be held by this month-end, the source added.
Architect Shashi Prabhu, who is also a member of the trust, told PTI that the trustees, including Uddhav Thackeray will visit the plot on Wednesday and accept possession of the land earmarked for the memorial.
“This will pave way for the construction of the memorial,” he said.
Prabhu also welcomed Maharashtra Cabinet’s decision to approve Rs 100 crore for the memorial and said this will help in completing the project without any hassles.
He said the civil work for the memorial’s construction is likely to start next month.
The land selected for the proposed memorial currently houses the bungalow of Mumbai mayor, which is a heritage site built in 1928 in an area spread over four acres. It is located at Shivaji Park in Dadar area of central Mumbai.
The prime sea-facing property, measuring around 11,500 sqm, was handed over to the ‘Balasaheb Thackeray Rashtriya Smarak Nyas’ (trust) last year.
A civic official said since the memorial area comes under the coastal regulation zone, it will require approval from the environment ministry.
“It is also a heritage site. We are hopeful of getting approval from all agencies concerned,” he added.
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