Former MSRDC chairperson Anil Deshmukh is disappointed that his idea of building one of Asia's tallest fountains near BWSL didn't materialise
Former MSRDC chairperson Anil Deshmukh is disappointed that his idea of building one of Asia's tallest fountains near BWSL didn't materialise
At the opening of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL) on Tuesday, former PWD minister and ex-Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Limited (MSRDC) chairperson Anil Deshmukh, who played a crucial role in ideating the BWSL, was lost among the sea of dignitaries. A subdued Deshmukh hid his disappointment by saying, "This happens when you are not a minister."
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Grand plans
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Fountain Head: King Fahd's Fountain in Jeddah is the world's tallest fountain, according to the Guinness World Records |
But what hurt Deshmukh more was that his plan of building one of Asia's tallest fountains alongside the engineering marvel did not find takers. Deshmukh wanted to build a fountain taller than the Port Fountain in Karachi, Pakistan, where water rises to a height of 190 m.
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"I wanted to build a fountain that rose to up to 205 metres at the centre of the Sea Link," said Deshmukh. He claims all the necessary paperwork was complete and he was about to float a tender. But, just then, he was removed as minister.
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"I wanted to inaugurate the BWSL and the fountain at the same time. Everything was going as per plan, but I don't know what happened," explained Deshmukh.
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"The fountain would have added to the beauty of the BWSL. It would have been a spectacular sight and people from everywhere would have come to catch a glimpse of the twin marvels," added Deshmukh.
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Talking about his involvement in the BWSL, the former MSRDC chairperson said, "The Sea Link is my baby.
The project was three per cent complete when it was handed over to me and was 98 per cent complete when it was taken away. It was a proud moment for me when the BWSL was inaugurated."
Standing Tall
King Fahd's Fountain in Jeddah is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the tallest fountain in the world. It can reach 1,020 ft.
The second is the Gateway Geyser located across the Mississippi River in America, which soars to nearly 630 ft.
The third is the Port Fountain (above) at 620 ft. Also called the Karachi Port Trust Fountain, it is located next to a series of islands known as the Oyster Rocks, off the Karachi Harbour.
