The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue controversy has ignited a heated debate in Maharashtra politics, with the MVA sharply criticizing the Shinde government over the statue’s collapse in Sindhudurg. In response, Union Highway Minister Nitin Gadkari has offered advice to his own government on the matter.
Speaking at a FICCI event, Gadkari emphasized that using stainless steel in the statue’s construction could have prevented its collapse. He also urged the use of anti-rust materials in coastal regions, noting that, for the past three years, he has consistently pushed for the construction of all bridges near the sea with stainless steel.
Drawing from his experience as a Minister of State, Gadkari shared an incident where a contractor in Mumbai misled him during the construction of 55 flyovers. The contractor applied powder coating to iron rods, falsely claiming they were rust-proof, which ultimately proved to be a scam.
In light of this, Gadkari urged the government to mandate the use of stainless steel for all roads within 30 kilometers of the sea. He expressed confidence that if stainless steel had been used for the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue, it would not have collapsed.
Meanwhile, authorities have issued a lookout notice for Jaideep Apte, the sculptor responsible for the statue, who has been missing for a week since the statue’s collapse.