Balasaheb Thackeray memorial in Dadar now expected to open by January 2027; MMRDA to appoint agency

The Balasaheb Thackeray National Memorial being built in Dadar is expected to become operational by January 2027. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will appoint an agency for its day-to-day operations and maintenance.

The agency will handle security and housekeeping at the memorial. Technical maintenance and services for visitors will also be its responsibility.

Upkeep of the buildings will also be the agency's job. This covers electrical and mechanical systems, elevators, air-conditioning units, firefighting equipment and CCTV surveillance. The agency will also manage the memorial's landscaped area, waste disposal and a visitor helpdesk. It will also have to coordinate with the specialised service providers who maintain the various facilities.

Earlier plan was January 2026

The memorial was earlier to be opened in January 2026. The inauguration had been planned for the birth centenary of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray. It has now been put off to January 2027, by which time the centenary celebrations will be drawing to a close.

One reason cited for the delay is a change in the memorial's governing trust. The term of the previous managing committee ended in March 2025, but the new committee was formed only in December 2025. After that, administrative procedures linked to the model code of conduct during the civic elections also affected the project's progress.

Where the memorial is and what it will have

The memorial is coming up on about 1.3 hectares in the former mayor's bungalow on Veer Savarkar Marg in Dadar. The development has four main sections: the heritage mayor's bungalow, an entrance building, an interpretation centre and an administrative block. The interpretation centre will provide information on Bal Thackeray and his legacy.

Background: after Bal Thackeray's death in 2012, the Maharashtra government gave the mayor's bungalow and adjoining plots for his memorial. A trust was formed for this, with Uddhav Thackeray as its chairperson.