Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has emphasized the need for rust-resistant materials in coastal construction, following the recent collapse of the Shivaji Maharaj statue in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra. Addressing a FICCI event on September 3, Gadkari suggested that if stainless steel had been used for the statue, it might have avoided the collapse.
Gadkari highlighted that stainless steel should be the material of choice for structures near the sea. “If stainless steel had been used for the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue, it would never have fallen,” he stated. He also shared his experience, revealing that he was misled during the construction of flyovers in Mumbai. “I was deceived when a contractor used a powder coating on iron rods and claimed they were rust-proof, but rusting occurred. I believe stainless steel should be used within 30 km of the sea,” Gadkari added.
The 35-foot statue, unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 4, 2023, collapsed around 1 pm on August 26. The incident has been a source of embarrassment for Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s government and has sparked criticism and protests from opposition parties. Shinde stated that the statue was designed and constructed by the Indian Navy.
Investigations revealed that the collapse was primarily due to corrosion in the fabricated materials used for the statue, which was assembled from 637 pieces. A Look Out Circular has been issued for contractor Jaydeep Apte, who was responsible for the statue’s construction. Additionally, Chetan Patil, the structural consultant named in the FIR, was arrested by police on August 19.
The incident has highlighted the crucial role of using appropriate materials in coastal and marine construction to prevent similar failures in the future.
