Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has approved a revised proposal to install a 60-foot bronze statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Chandni Chowk, significantly increasing its originally planned height of 20 feet. The decision was finalized during a Standing Committee meeting, with the total project cost now estimated at ₹7.60 crore.

The statue will be installed on 5,542 square meters of municipal land located at Survey No. 19 and 20 in Bavdhan Khurd, adjacent to the Chandni Chowk flyover. The site is positioned along the service road of the national highway connecting Mulshi to Kothrud and Satara to Mumbai. The project aims to enhance the area’s visual appeal and establish it as a prominent tourist attraction.

As per the initial blueprint, the installation included an entrance gate with stone cladding, lotus-shaped fountains, a 17-foot-high pedestal, and a 20-foot bronze statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

The landscaping plan also included pedestrian pathways made of yellow and red stones, a cement concrete wall on one side, a boundary wall on the other, and a small entrance gate. A garden with decorative plants and trees was also planned for the remaining area. The Standing Committee had previously sanctioned ₹6.56 crore for the original project.

The original plan was met with concerns from local enthusiasts, who argued that a 20-foot statue would not be suitable for the historic significance of the location. In response, Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol intervened and recommended that the municipal administration revise the plan to include a 60-foot full-sized statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Following this recommendation, PMC revised the blueprint, increasing the height of the pedestal from 17 feet to 30 feet and placing a 60-foot statue atop it. The statue will be constructed using 23,760 kg of bronze, bringing the revised project cost to ₹7.60 crore.

The proposed location of the statue is in close proximity to the National Defence Academy (NDA) at Chandni Chowk. Given its height and location, the project requires approvals from the Ministry of Defence and other relevant Central Government departments. Officials have assured that the necessary security standards and regulations will be met as part of the revised plan.