Inspired by the 60-foot-tall granite sculpture carved into Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills region of South Dakota, USA, depicting the faces of four US presidents and a huge tourist attraction, the government of Maharashtra is considering an indigenous version of the same, starring five of its illustrious local children.

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has been commissioned to explore the feasibility of the project. Recently, the company had issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) tender for the appointment of a consultant for the preparation of a feasibility study and master plan for the proposed rock carving in the Sahyadri area of Maharashtra.

MSRDC Deputy President and Director General Radhyeshyam Mopalwar told FPJ that the concept is that of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and they are currently looking for an international sculptor to assess the feasibility of the project.

Mopalwar said: “The Mount Rushmore project was completed in about 15 years. Such large-scale projects take time. However, it is only after finding an internationally renowned sculptor that something can be planned. Until then, the project is still too conceptual to be developed.

Meanwhile, the MSRDC continues to work on the 700 km long Samruddhi Mahamarg project which crosses the hills of the various districts of the surrounding Sahyadri region.

According to an inside source, the carved stone project is more likely to be explored mainly on the alignment of Samruddhi Mahamarg. Laterite stone, rich in iron and aluminum and black stone is found in Nashik, Aurangabad and Junnar belts, and therefore, the feasibility of the proposed carved stone sculpture project will be checked here.

These types of rock are generally suitable for such projects, the source observed, adding that it is in Junnar, Aurangabad, that caves such as Ellora, a major tourist attraction, are located.

If all goes as planned, the famous faces carved on the mountain will be those of Maharashtra’s luminaries – Bharat Ratna Dr BR Ambedkar, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, social reformer Jyotiba Phule, Chhatrapati Shahu and the late Shiv Sena party founder Bal Thackeray .

In fact, the MSRDC in its RFP also expressed that the government of Maharashtra aspires to lease and develop a memorial for the glorious rulers and warriors of Indian history with special emphasis on the heroes of the state. of Maharashtra, which will be complemented by the development of tourist destinations near the mountainous region.

The Samruddhi Mahamarg road will be flanked by the hills of Igatpuri, Aurangabad and other places. The MSRDC has scheduled a pre-tender meeting on the appointment of an expert consultant on June 30 at its office in Bandra.

Bids received online from interested parties will be opened on July 15th and thereafter, technical bids must be physically submitted by bidders only, no later than July 20th.