New 83-Foot Statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to Be Unveiled at Malvan’s Rajkot Fort on May 1

Malvan : Nearly eight months after the collapse of a 35-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Maharashtra government is preparing to unveil a grander and structurally robust 83-foot bronze statue at Rajkot Fort in Malvan. The unveiling is scheduled for May 1, aligning with Maharashtra Day celebrations, and is being seen as both a tribute to the Maratha warrior king and a political effort to restore public trust after last year’s debacle.

The new bronze statue, rising to 83 feet including the sword, has been crafted by the firm of renowned sculptor Ram Sutar, the artist behind the Statue of Unity. His son, Anil Sutar, confirmed that the structure is nearly ready and scaffolding has begun to come down.“The pedestal alone is 10 feet high, while the statue with the sword rises to 83 feet. Fabrication began in October-November 2024, and the statue was transported in 10-foot sections from our Noida facility. Assembly started on March 3,” Sutar said in a statement to Hindustan Times.

The ₹21.9 crore project has been built with a duplex stainless steel internal frame and a three-metre-high concrete pedestal, ensuring superior durability. According to Mahendra Kini, executive engineer with the Sawantwadi division of the Public Works Department (PWD), the statue has passed rigorous structural assessments by IIT experts and comes with a guarantee to last 100 years.

The move to install a new statue follows the embarrassing collapse of a 35-foot statue in August 2024, just months after it was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The incident, which occurred just before the state elections, triggered widespread political backlash and led to Modi issuing a public apology.

A government probe later revealed that the earlier statue suffered from internal corrosion, welding flaws, and weak structural design. As a result, sculptor Jaydeep Apte and structural consultant Chetan Patil were arrested on charges of negligence, fraud, and endangering public safety. Apte was granted bail by the Bombay High Court in January 2025.

Officials state that the new statue is a symbol of redemption for the government and a permanent tribute to Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy. With enhanced scrutiny over its engineering, materials, and execution, the government hopes the monument will become a lasting landmark and draw cultural tourism to Malvan.“We’ve taken all precautions to ensure stability and safety this time. Every component has been quality-checked,” said Kini.

The unveiling ceremony is expected to be attended by senior state and central government officials, cultural leaders, and descendants of Shivaji Maharaj’s lineage.