Mayor demands for Shivaji statue at CST

Mumbai, Feb 5 (UNI) The city's Mayor Dr Shubha Raul today demanded that the Railway Ministry put up a statue of legendary Maratha warrior, Shivaji Maharaj at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus.

''I am thankful to the government for renaming the erstwhile VT Station after the great Maratha warrior, Shivaji Maharaj. But despite the change in name, there is no visible sign here which suggests it to be the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus,'' Dr Raul said.

She said this while addressing a gathering on the occasion of flagging off ceremony of the new Janshatabdi Express train between Mumbai and Aurangabad by the Minister of State for Railways, Narainbhai Rathwa here today.

''It is my sincere appeal to the Railways Minister to install a Statue of Shivaji Maharaj at an appropriate place around the station complex,'' she said.

Responding to her appeal, Mr Rathwa said that he would look into the Mayor's demand and put every possible effort in this direction.

When asked about the time-frame for the installation of the proposed statue, Mr Rathwa did not make any commitment and said that there was a committee in the Ministry, which takes the final call on such issues.

UNI IAS SR VKG2045