Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar on Tuesday announced that the state government has approved a fund of Rs 5 crore to acquire a building in London for the construction of Maharashtra Bhavan.

He stated that this long-awaited initiative will fulfil the Marathi community's demand for a cultural centre of their own in the UK's capital.

Last week, board representatives met Ajit Pawar in Pune to seek financial support from the state government to establish the Maharashtra Bhavan in a property purchased from the Church of England. Following the meeting, Pawar instructed the administration to prepare and submit a detailed proposal to the finance department. With the approval of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the government has now sanctioned the required funds, reported the IANS.