The Maharashtra government has planned to build its very own Statue of Liberty of Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji, off the coast of Mumbai in the Arabian Sea. The statue of the Maratha warrior king will mirror (Statue of Liberty) another global icon, the statue of liberty in New York.

“We are also planning a light and sound show and a museum so that people get to know Shivaji, the king and the administrator,” said Vilasrao Deshmukh, Chief Minister, Maharashtra.

The statue will be 93 meters tall- the same height that of Statue of Liberty in New York. But the supposed statue of 17th century Maratha king at 309 feet and cast in bronze, rising 1.8 km from the Arabian Sea, has already created lots of controversies. It is a sudden proposal woken up to four years after being in power by the congress led Maharashtra government. Questions are being raised on the proposal as elections are coming next year.

“What’s the need? It will be a problem whether aesthetically, environmentally or economically,” said Nayana Kathpalia, convener, Citispace.

Not what the chief minister and his deputy were thinking during a site inspection, an island measuring 30,000 square meters and a ferry service to be built along the city’s coast, a coastline that also happens to host one of Mumbai’s most coveted promenades. It is among the country’s most well-known landmarks.

“I think this is nothing but an attempt by the government to garner some votes keeping in mind next year’s elections,” said R N Somani, Walkers Association of Marine Drive.

The project is expected to cost nearly five million dollars.