A city-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), Watchdog Foundation, has written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, to get the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj released from the railway`s custody for installation at a rightful place.

In a front page article on Tuesday, Mid-day had highlighted how a life-size statue of the 17th century Maratha warrior has been lying locked at a shed in Wadi Bunder near Sandhurst Road for the past few years owing to lack of permissions. The statue was originally meant to be installed in front of Platform 18 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), near the P D’Mello Road entrance. The plan also included murals of Raigad, Panhala, Sinhagad, Shivneri, Rajgad, Bhulkot, and Janjira forts, along with themed lighting. However, the entire project was scrapped after CSMT was selected for redevelopment.