Mumbai, Aug 25 - Maharashtra Tuesday approved the design for a 309-foot tall statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji and an entertainment complex that would come up in the Arabian Sea south of this financial capital. The designs selected were from firms in Thailand and Mumbai, officials said here Tuesday.

The state cabinet approved the designs for the proposed Rs.3.5 billion statue of the warrior king astride a horse, and a huge multi-utilities complex around it submitted by Besel Design Studios, Thailand, and Team One Architect Co, Mumbai, a state government spokesperson said.

The official said the statue would be taller than the Statue of Liberty overlooking the New York harbour in the US, and would become a world-class monument symbolizing Mumbai.

The designs were selected in an international competition in which 11 global consultants took part, he added.