Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial: No Feasibility Report, No Technical Estimate, reveals RTI

Moneylife Digital Team 02 January 2017

Public Interest

The project of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial in the Arabian Sea is without any feasibility report, not there any technical estimation done, reveals a reply received under the Right to Information Act. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 24 December 2016 laid the foundation for the Memorial of the Maratha warrior King.

Pune-based RTI activist Sanjay Shirodkar had filed the RTI asking copies of feasibility report, technical estimate, environmental clearance and approval given by the Maharashtra government of the Project, estimated to cost about Rs3,600 crore. The Memorial includes a proposed 192-meter tall statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, will be built off the coast of Mumbai by reclaiming land from the Arabian Sea.

Replying to the RTI, VG Jethra, Public Information Officer (PIO) and Deputy Engineer of CMSM Project Division, says, "The Feasibility Report of the said project is not prepared. Being an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract, the Technical Estimate of this Memorial Project is not prepared."

Shirodkar says, "Feasibility report is the base of every infrastructure project. How this was not prepared for this mega project? In EPC, the Contractor is made responsible for activities from EPC to Commissioning and hand over to end user or Owner. Again Government should prepare a Technical Estimate of any infrastructure project. In this case if this happens then who will control the Cost Escalation?"

Here is the reply received by Shirodkar under the RTI...

Comments

User

Sandeep Sood

10 years ago

The only requirement is political comfort and sefish goals ;) Baki sab MITHYA hai.

S A Narayan

10 years ago

For sure its a scandal in the making by the time the project is completed.

Dahyabhai S Patel

10 years ago

BRTS is Bus Rapid Transit System. BRTS Delhi was a failure and AAP Government had to scrap it spending Rs. 36 crores. BRTS Ahmedabad also is failure but useful to politicians like a Modi and a Gadkari getting financial and positional benefits!

Sudhir Jatar

10 years ago

In Maharashtra, pre-feasibility and feasibility reports, inception reports and detailed project report are generally not prepared. A stark example is that of BRTS in Pune for which over Rs. 20 crores have been spent and much more earmarked. So, it is not a surprise at all.

Shirish Sadanand Shanbhag

Replied to Sudhir Jatar comment 10 years ago

I have seen in the middle of the road in Pune, some bus stand was built up. I was not knowing that it was called BRIT.
Project is failure, buses in modified form to run for BRIT were put in scrap, as people who want to board such buses or alighting from such buses, at most traffic roads were finding them very difficult to cross the road, to reach BRIT bus stops or move to side from BRTI bus stop.
Government of Maharashtra has not removed BRIT bus shelters in the middle of the road at Pune, which are great obstacle to speedy vehicular traffic.

Shirish Sadanand Shanbhag

Replied to Sudhir Jatar comment 10 years ago

What is BRTS in Pune, Sir?
Kindly explain.
Thank you.

Shirish Sadanand Shanbhag

10 years ago

With the same cost at least ten jetties along the coast of Maharashtra state can be constructed. This will give solace to the soul of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who gave importance to navy and navigation in his empire.
This statue in the middle of the Arabian Sea very close to the Mumbai Port will require lot of security measures, and yearly maintenance of entire artificial island and the huge statue. It will require at least 500 to 600 crore rupees every year to maintain this statue.