Sambhaji Maharaj Statue Project Under Cloud
- Rs. 65.81 crore already spent; opposition stalls new tenders citing irregularities
Pimpri : Even after spending a staggering Rs. 65.81 crore over the past six years, the work on the 100-foot statue of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj at Moshi remains incomplete. Now, fresh proposals worth Rs. 50 crore for two separate tenders to complete the project have triggered controversy, with opposition leaders questioning the move and forcing the civic body to temporarily defer the proposals.
Project Shifted to PMRDA Land
The proposal to install a 100-foot statue of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was approved by the then Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation administration in January 2020. The project was initially planned at Vinayaknagar in Borhadewadi, Moshi, and the civic body awarded the contract to M/s Dhaneshwar Construction at an estimated cost of Rs.12.50 crore. Work orders were issued on March 16, 2020, with a deadline of one and a half years for completion. However, as the contractor failed to complete the project within the stipulated time, the deadline was later extended till December 31, 2022.
Meanwhile, Mahesh Landge, MLA from Bhosari, suggested shifting the project from Vinayaknagar to land owned by the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) at Sector 5 and 8 in Moshi, near the Pune International Exhibition and Convention Centre (PIECC). Land measuring about 20 acres was sought for the project on November 2, 2022. Subsequently, PMRDA handed over around 2.5 acres of land to the municipal corporation on July 21, 2023. The work on the statue of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj is currently underway at this new location.
Rs. 65.81 Crore Spent So Far
Substantial funds have already been spent on the statue project and related development works. Around Rs. 12.47 crore was spent on allied works for the statue of Hambirrao Mohite at Borhadewadi. The deadline for this work, initially set for September 2021, was later extended till March 2024. In addition, about Rs. 32.84 crore was allocated for the construction of the statue itself, with the completion deadline extended from February 2022 to December 2024.
Meanwhile, for the installation of the statue of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj on land provided by the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), an initial tender of Rs. 15 crore was floated. In a revised estimate, the project cost was increased by Rs. 5.41 crore, taking the total expenditure so far to Rs. 20.52 crore. Although the deadline for completing this work was set for March 2025, the project still remains unfinished.
Overall, Rs. 65.81 crore has been spent so far on the statue and surrounding development works, yet the project remains incomplete. Opposition leaders have questioned the repeated extensions granted to the contractor, raising concerns over delays and possible irregularities in the execution of the project.
Repeated Extensions and Fresh Tender Proposals
Amid continued delays, a proposal seeking approval for two new tenders related to electrical and civil works in the area of statue was placed before the standing committee of the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. According to the first proposal, Rs. 13.74 crore was earmarked for civil works and Rs. 18.66 crore for electrical works, taking the total estimated cost to Rs. 32.34 crore. A second proposal suggested Rs. 13.84 crore for decorative electrical illumination and Rs. 6.42 crore for civil works around the statue site, amounting to Rs. 20.27 crore in total.
However, opposition members strongly objected to the proposals, alleging a tender ring and irregularities in the bidding process. Following the objections, the standing committee chairman Abhishek Barne was compelled to defer both proposals, despite the ruling party holding a majority in the civic body.
Questions Raised Over New Tenders
The delay in completing the statue of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, even after substantial expenditure, has triggered growing public dissatisfaction. Opposition leaders also raised concerns after the project contractor, M/s Dhaneshwar Construction, reportedly quoted 0% rate for work worth Rs. 32.34 crore, questioning the transparency of the process. For the electrical illumination works estimated at Rs. 18.66 crore, a 7 % rate was quoted.
While the ruling side attempted to push the tender approvals, strong objections from opposition members forced the standing committee to step back. Many citizens have expressed concern that crores of rupees are being spent in the name of developing the statue project, raising questions about accountability and who ultimately benefits from the repeated delays and escalating costs.
“The major civil works of the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj statue at Moshi have been completed, while other development works in the surrounding area are currently in progress. The next phase of work was slightly delayed as the review reports from COEP and IIT Bombay took some time to be received. However, efforts are being made to expedite the remaining works, and all development work in the area of statue is expected to be completed by December 2026.”
— Sunildatta Narote, Executive Engineer (Civil), Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC)
