After the recent collapse of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari highlighted the need for using stainless steel in construction near coastal areas to prevent such accidents. Speaking at a FICCI event, Gadkari mentioned that stainless steel would have prevented the collapse and stressed its importance in projects close to the sea.
The minister shared his past experiences where he was misled during the construction of flyovers in Mumbai. “Someone fooled me by putting powder coating on iron rods and claiming they were rust-proof. But they rusted. I believe stainless steel should be used within 30 km of the sea,” Gadkari said.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar blamed corruption for the statue’s collapse, calling it shocking since the statue was built only a few months ago and inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The incident has led to criticism and demands for accountability from the state government.
In the wake of this incident, the Sindhudurg police have issued a lookout notice for sculptor Jaydeep Apte, who has been missing for over a week after the statue’s collapse. The situation remains tense as investigations continue, and authorities face pressure to ensure such incidents do not happen again.