Architect of world’s tallest bldg to draw up towering mid-sea memorial

Architect and design firm of the world’s tallest building, Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the NORR Group has been chosen as consultant by the Maharashtra government to erect a 190m-high statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the Arabian Sea.

The estimated cost of this project is Rs2,000 crore. The state, however, has made a budgetary provision of Rs90 crore.

According to a senior government official, they had floated a global tender for choosing the project management consultant for the Shivaji statue. “Three firms were shortlisted and, out of those, the NORR Group was selected as it was the lowest bidder. NORR will guide the government in selecting the design, preparing the blueprint, and the pre-bidding, bidding and tender process. The firm will supervise the work till the project is completed. We have called them next week to give a detailed presentation,” said Dr PS Meena, principal secretary (general administration).

Meena said NORR’s consultancy fee is Rs44 crore. “We have got almost all permissions in place. Things are moving in the right direction and very soon the actual work will also start,” he added.

Another government official said the statue’s height was revised from 98 metres to 190 metres to tower over Gujarat’s under-construction Statue of Unity, which is set to be 182 metres. “As per the earlier plan, the statue was supposed to be 98 metres, taller than the 93m-high Statue of Liberty in Manhattan. But the design was reworked as the aim is to make it the tallest statue in sea,” the official added.

The government plans to develop the statue on seven acres of island. The entire island will look like a fort reminiscent of medieval times. “Daily, a special slideshow on various phases of the Maratha king’s life will be shown. Other facilities, such as a library and a food court, will also be there. NORR will give its value additions to make this project world class,” said a senior government official.

The idea was conceived in 1980. The project has been mired in controversy due to various reasons. Earlier, MNS chief Raj Thackeray had opposed it on environment ground.