Lakhs turn up in Uran as Maharashtra CM unveils Shivaji statue

NAVI MUMBAI: More than 3 lakh people turned up to witness the unveiling of the statues of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Samarth Ramdas Swami at Dastan Phata in Uran on Sunday though the inauguration was delayed by more than two hours, said the Navi Mumbai police. Organisers pegged the crowd strength at more than 8 lakh. All roads leading to the venue-a nearly 160-acre JNPT ground-were jam-packed through the day, said the police, who had a hard time managing the crowds.
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union minister for road transport, highways, shipping and water resources, river development Nitin Gadkari and social reformer Padmashri awardee Appasaheb Dharmadhikari unveiled the statues.
A two-minute silence was observed to pay a tribute to the soldiers killed in Pulwama. Speaking at the event, Fadnavis mentioned the Air India building in Nariman Point and said "Maharashtra government is keen on buying the iconic 23-story tower though JNPT has bid for it".
Gadkari stressed on development of water transport in the Mumbai Metropolitan region. On Gadkari's request, Dharmadhikari agreed to plant trees along the Pune Expressway as thousands of trees were cut for construction of the 90km high-speed road. "We will start the plantation drive soon," he said.