18 August,2026 07:39 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Minister Prakash Abitkar, MLAs Rohit Pawar, Sandeep Kshirsagar, and Sunil Bhusara, and former MLA Shashikant Khedekar with Eknath Shinde during the announcement. PIC/X
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday announced Rs 50 crore for the memorial of Rajmata Jijau at Sindkhed Raja in Buldhana district under the Urban Development Department's special scheme.
The additional funding is expected to expedite the development of the memorial.
A sum of Rs 50 crore had been announced in 2024 for the memorial and Jijau Srushti project at Sindkhed Raja. Work on Jijau Srushti near Sindkhed Raja was subsequently started using the funds.
So far, Rs 27 crore has been spent on the project, which is currently under progress. However, the government has now decided to provide an additional Rs 50 crore to enable work on the actual memorial at the historic residence of Lakhuji Jadhav in the city to begin.
The funds will be used for the development of Rajmata Jijau's memorial, roads in the area, and other necessary infrastructure and amenities in and around the site.
The local municipal council will be asked to submit a proposal, following which the work will be expedited through the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC).
The government is aiming to complete the memorial at the earliest.
Minister Prakash Abitkar, legislators Rohit Pawar, Sandeep Kshirsagar, and Sunil Bhusara, and former Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Shashikant Khedekar were also present on the occasion.
The Maharashtra government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indian Hotels Company Ltd, part of the Taj Group, and the Shiroda-Velagar Landowners Cooperative Society Ltd to speed up tourism development at Shiroda-Velagar in Sindhudurg district, an official statement said on Tuesday.
The agreement was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Ajit Pawar, Tourism Minister Shambhuraj Desai, Fisheries Development Minister Nitesh Rane and Minister of State for Tourism Indranil Naik.
The project will give priority to local people for employment opportunities, particularly those affected by the development, officials said.
The government said the project has been planned with the interests of the local community in mind. It is expected to create new employment opportunities and support the local economy.
