Work on Balasaheb Thackeray's memorial in Thane begins

THANE: The 'Bhoomi Puja' for the first memorial complex in remembrance of late Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray spread over 20,860 sqm of land here was held by party's district chief and MLA Eknath Shinde.

The puja was held at the Teen Haath Naka site yesterday on the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi.

The project is the brainchild of the Leader of the House Naresh Mhaske, who took the lead in getting it cleared from the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC).

Mhaske said that it will be a world-class memorial built at a cost of Rs 11 crore.

The two-building complex will comprise a main glass pyramid structure with a snarling gigantic tiger placed at the entrance, depicting the Sena emblem.

The memorial complex will also include an amphitheatre, music centre, display gallery, a block for cartoons and a separate block for artists. Just near the pyramid will be an annex block which will house a study room, library and a lawn between the two buildings.

The memorial will exhibit late Thackeray's cartoons, editorials and collection of his historical speeches, Mhaske said.

Present on the occasion were MP Srikanth Shinde, MLA Pratap Sarnaik and City Mayor H S Patil.