Pune: Maharashtra Government Approves Memorial at Birthplace of Martyr Shivaram Hari Rajguru

Rajgurunagar, 12th December 2023:The Maharashtra State Government has approved the construction of a memorial at Rajgurunagar, the birthplace of Shivaram Hari Rajguru, a national hero who made a significant sacrifice for the country’s freedom struggle.

The memorial, estimated to cost Rs 104 crores in the first phase, has been long-awaited and is expected to gain momentum with the recent government approval. However, it has come to light that the approval process took eight years.

Rajguru, who sacrificed his life for the country’s freedom struggle, holds historical importance in Maharashtra, particularly in Pune.

The plan to erect a memorial for the martyr was initiated by Girish Bapat when he was the District Guardian Minister.

Pune District Administration prepared and submitted the plan to the government in 2016, but it faced an extended delay in the approval process. The recent approval by the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Committee marks the end of an eight-year wait. The development plan includes a comprehensive approach, covering restoration, facilities, and infrastructure around the memorial area.

The proposal for the development plan was prepared under the chairmanship of the Pune District Collector Dr. Rajesh Deshmukh. The district-level committee approved a proposal of Rs 254 crores and 11 lakhs, with the government recently approving the first phase of work worth Rs. 104 crores and 12 lakhs. The entire project is expected to be completed in three phases by March 2026, with the second phase proposed to cost Rs. 136 crores and 44 lakhs.

The construction of the memorial includes the restoration of the memorial, birth room, Thorla Wada Talim, main door, Ram temple, and other significant structures. Additional facilities such as a facility hall, library, canteen, improvement of the river area, protected walls, parking lots, sidewalks, internal roads, landscaped areas, open auditorium, statues, murals, and overall lighting are also part of the development plan.

Dilip Mohite Patil, MLA of Khed, expressed satisfaction with the approval, highlighting that committee meetings were held regarding the design of the monument. He emphasized that the government’s attention to the project and the approval of Rs. 104 crores have resolved the long-pending issue of the Martyr Rajguru’s memorial.