Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister , who also heads the Shiv Sena, has announced that a 42-metre-tall statue of his mentor Anand Dighe would be installed in Thane city, reported news agency PTI.
He made the announcement on Thursday during the `bhoomi pujan` (ground breaking) ceremony for the renovation of the clock tower at Shivaji Maidan, where the statue will come up.
Eknath Shinde said the renovated premises would not just feature the massive statue but also various citizen-centric amenities, reported PTI.
Dighe, an immensely popular eader from the Thane region, died from a heart attack following an accident in August 2001.
A budget of Rs 11 crore has already been approved for the work, Shinde said. “When it comes to Dighe Saheb, because of whose blessings I became the chief minister, there will never be any paucity of funds,” he added, reported PTI.
Shinde urges citizens to opt for `collective planning` of cluster redevelopment
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday asked people to opt for cluster redevelopment instead of isolated redevelopment projects as the former allows for integrated urban renewal with better infrastructure, open spaces and civic amenities, reported PTI.
Addressing a gathering after dedicating and laying foundation stones of various projects in Thane, Shinde said the Devendra Fadnavis government wants each and every city in the state to progress, reported PTI.
While urban centres such as Mumbai, and Thane possess the infrastructure, resources and capacity to grow, attention must also be directed toward regions that currently lack economic power, he added, reported PTI.
Highlighting the benefits of the government`s cluster development policy, Shinde urged citizens to support redevelopment through collective planning rather than opting for isolated redevelopment projects.
“In case you go in for individual development, you lose the benefits. The concept of a cluster is nothing but development within a city, and citizens should take the benefit of the same. Thane is already witnessing several ongoing projects developed under this cluster concept, which allows for integrated urban renewal with better infrastructure, open spaces, and civic amenities,” he said, reported PTI.