Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday commenced the work for a mega memorial of medieval Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj by performing 'jal pujan' near Mumbai coast.
The memorial site is a small rocky outcrop, about 2 km from the Raj Bhavan shore, which serves as the residence of the Maharashtra Governor. The memorial is slated to cost Rs 3,600 crore to the Centre and State exchequer.
A 192-metre-tall gigantic statue of Shivaji Maharaj will be installed at the site, which will also serve as a tourism destination.
Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis had recently said the memorial will not only be the tallest memorial in the country but in the entire world.
Later, the Prime Minister addressed a public rally in suburban Mumbai, after laying the foundation stone for two Metro rail projects, Elevated Rail Corridors and Mumbai Trans Harbor Link (MTHL) project.
He said that after 50 days when the demonetisation process will end, honest person hardships will start decreasing while those who are corrupt, their problems will increase. He added that demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes were a historic decision and that the people of India will not tolerate corruption and black money.