'Bhoomi pujan' for Shivaji memorial on Feb 19

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said 'bhoomi pujan' for the proposed memorial to Shivaji Maharaj off Mumbai coast would be held on February 19, the birth anniversary of the Maratha warrior.
"The 'bhoomi pujan' will be performed on the occasion of Shivaji Jayanti on February 19," Fadnavis said here during the ongoing session of the state Assembly.
Replying to a debate on Motion of Thanks to Governor, he said the state government has drawn up a blueprint for setting up the memorial in the Arabian sea and necessary clearances from the Union Forest and Environment Ministry and other formalities will be completed within a month.

"All the hurdles for the memorial will be removed and it will be a reality soon," he informed the Lower House.
The state government was also committed to set up an appropriate memorial for Dr B R Ambedkar at the Indu Mills land in Mumbai, he said.
The previous Democratic Front (DF) government had sent a proposal for it to the Centre, but could not follow it up, Fadnavis said criticising former state Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan for not getting clearances from the earlier UPA government.

Fadnavis also criticised Chavan for his failure to get nod from the previous UPA government for his dream project of Coastal Road.

The present state government was trying to fast track it and following it up for seeking necessary approvals from different central ministries, he said.
The government will expedite the Mumbai Metro Rail projects and also set up a School of Planning and Architecture of international standard in Aurangabad, he said.
Besides, a single-window system for investment will be put in place and the government will ensure transparency in the PPP model, Fadnavis said adding that Pune will be developed as Maharashtra's IT hub on the lines of Bengaluru.
There was lot to be done in the area of solid waste management and it was time for bigger cities to get rid of the problem, he added.