Maharashtra Unveils 91-Foot-Tall Rebuilt Shivaji Maharaj Statue In 'Record Time' After Sindhudurg Collapse

Eight months after the controversial collapse of a 35-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Maharashtra government unveiled a towering new 91-foot bronze replacement at Rajkot Fort in Malvan, Sindhudurg.

The statue was inaugurated by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday (11 May), marking what he called a “record time” reconstruction, Indian Express reported.

“After the unfortunate incident last year, our government had resolved that the new statue will be built in a record time and we have done that,” said Fadnavis, adding that the structure has been engineered “to withstand the wind speed equal or greater than” cyclones experienced in the Konkan region.

The original statue, unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2023, collapsed just seven months later in August 2024 due to heavy rain and strong winds, sparking political backlash and allegations of corruption.

“This statue is 91 feet in height and has around 10 feet pedestal. I have been told that this is possibly the tallest statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” Fadnavis said, expressing confidence in its 100-year resilience.

Crafted by renowned sculptor and Padma Shri awardee Ram V Sutar—designer of the Statue of Unity—the new statue was built by his firm Ram Sutar Art Creations Pvt Ltd, in collaboration with artists from JJ School of Art and engineers from IIT. The firm also secured the maintenance contract for the next ten years.

Initially quoting Rs 36.05 crore, Ram Sutar’s firm agreed to match the lower Rs 20.90 crore bid of Garnet Interiors to win the contract, following a tender floated by the Public Works Department.

The previous statue’s collapse led to the arrests of its sculptor and structural consultant. Both were later granted bail. The incident had ignited political tension ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections.

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