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Coordinates: 21°50′17″N 73°43′09″E / 21.8380°N 73.7191°E / 21.8380; 73.7191
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==Tourism==
==Tourism==
Over 128,000 tourists visited it in 11 days since it was opened to the public on 1 November 2018.<ref>{{cite news |title=In 11 Days, Over 1.28 Lakh Tourists Visit Statue Of Unity |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/in-11-days-over-1-28-lakh-tourists-visit-statue-of-unity-1945761 |accessdate=14 November 2018 |work=NDTV.com}}</ref> Buses take tourists from the parking lot to the statue, as the area around the statue is a "no private vehicle" zone. Elevators run from 3 to 5 pm to take tourists with tickets up to the observation deck at the top. The statue remains closed every Monday for maintenance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/statue-of-unity-sees-record-27000-visitors-on-saturday/articleshow/66570094.cms|title=Statue of Unity sees record 27,000 visitors on Saturday}}</ref>
Over 128,000 tourists visited it in 11 days since it was opened to the public on 1 November 2018.<ref>{{cite news |title=In 11 Days, Over 1.28 Lakh Tourists Visit Statue Of Unity |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/in-11-days-over-1-28-lakh-tourists-visit-statue-of-unity-1945761 |accessdate=14 November 2018 |work=NDTV.com}}</ref> Buses take tourists from the parking lot to the statue, as the area around the statue is a "no private vehicle" zone. Elevators run from 3 to 5 pm to take tourists with tickets up to the observation deck at the top. The statue remains closed every Monday for maintenance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/statue-of-unity-sees-record-27000-visitors-on-saturday/articleshow/66570094.cms|title=Statue of Unity sees record 27,000 visitors on Saturday}}</ref>

Tourists visiting the Statue of Unity in Gujarat's Kevadia, built as a tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, can now enjoy a helicopter ride for a better view of the 182-metre structure.<ref>{{cite web |title=Statue Of Unity Now Gets A Chopper Ride. Here's How Much It Will Cost |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/statue-of-unity-now-gets-a-chopper-ride-heres-how-much-it-will-cost-1967408 |website=ndtv.com |publisher=ndtv.com |accessdate=19 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Watch: Statue of Unity helicopter ride video goes viral |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/travel-tourism/now-get-statue-of-unity-helicopter-ride-for-just-rs-2900/1431545/ |website=financialexpress.com |publisher=financialexpress.com |accessdate=19 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=After Ferry Ride, Tourists Can Get An Aerial View Of Statue Of Unity In A Helicopter For Rs 3000 |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/after-ferry-ride-tourists-can-get-an-aerial-view-of-statue-of-unity-in-a-helicopter-for-rs-4000_-359257.html |website=indiatimes.com |publisher=indiatimes.com |accessdate=19 January 2019}}</ref>


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Revision as of 09:08, 19 January 2019

Statue of Unity
Aerial view of the statue of unity
Map
21°50′17″N 73°43′09″E / 21.8380°N 73.7191°E / 21.8380; 73.7191
LocationKevadiya colony, Narmada district, Gujarat, India
DesignerRam V. Sutar
TypeStatue
MaterialSteel framing, reinforced concrete, bronze cladding[1]
Height
  • Statue: 182 metres (597 ft)
  • Including base: 240 metres (790 ft)[1]
Beginning date31 October 2013 (2013-10-31)
Completion dateOctober 2018
Opening date31 October 2018; 5 years ago (2018-10-31)
Dedicated toSardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Websitestatueofunity.in

The Statue of Unity is a colossal statue of Indian statesman and independence activist Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (1875–1950) who was the first Home minister of India and the chief adherent of Mahatma Gandhi during the non-violent Indian Independence movement; highly respected for his leadership in uniting the 562 princely states of India to form the single large Union of India. It is located in the state of Gujarat, India. It is the world's tallest statue with a height of 182 metres (597 ft). It is located on a river island facing the Sardar Sarovar Dam on river Narmada in Kevadiya colony, 100 kilometres (62 mi) southeast of the city of Vadodara.[2]

The project was first announced in 2010 and the construction of statue started in October 2013 by Larsen & Toubro, who received the contract for ₹2,989 crore (US$420 million). It was designed by Indian sculptor Ram V. Sutar, and was inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 31 October 2018, the 143rd anniversary of Patel's birth.[3]

History

Narendra Modi first announced the project to commemorate Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on 7 October 2010 at a press conference to mark the beginning of his 10th year as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. At the time, the project was dubbed, "Gujarat's tribute to the nation". A special purpose vehicle named the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Rashtriya Ekta Trust (SVPRET) was constituted by the Government of Gujarat for executing the project.[4]

An outreach drive named the Statue of Unity Movement was started to support the construction of the statue. It helped collect the iron needed for the statue by asking farmers to donate their used farming instruments.[4][5] By 2016, total 135 metric tonnes of scrap iron had been collected and about 109 tonnes of it was used to make the foundation of the statue after processing.[6] A marathon entitled Run For Unity was held on 15 December 2013 in Surat in support of the project.[7]

Design and construction

Vallabhbhai Patel was one of the most prominent leaders of the Indian independence movement and responsible for the unification of 554 princely states to form the modern political boundary of India.[8]

Design

The statue depicts Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the most prominent leaders of the Indian independence movement, the first Deputy Prime Minister of India, and responsible for the unification of hundreds of princely states to form the modern political boundary of India.

The Statue of Unity is an enlarged version of this statue in the Ahmedabad International Airport.

After studying numerous statues of Patel across the country, a team of historians, artists, and academics chose to proceed with a design submitted by the Indian sculptor, Ram V. Sutar.[a] The Statue of Unity is a much larger replica of a statue of the leader installed at Ahmedabad International Airport. Commenting on the design, Ram Sutar's son, Anil Sutar explains that "the expression, posture and pose justify the dignity, confidence, iron will as well as kindness that his personal exudes. The head is up, a shawl flung from shoulders and hands are on the side as if he is set to walk". Three models of the design measuring 3 feet (0.91 m), 18 feet (5.5 m), and 30 feet (9.1 m) were initially created. Once the design of the largest model was approved, a detailed 3D-scan was produced which formed the basis for the bronze cladding cast in a foundry in China.[10][6]

Patel's dhoti-clad legs and the use of sandals for footwear rendered the design thinner at the base than at the top thereby affecting its stability. This was addressed by maintaining a slenderness ratio of 16:19 rather than the customary 8:14 ratio of other tall buildings.[6] The statue is built to withstand winds of up to 180 kilometres per hour (110 mph) and earthquakes measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale which are at a depth of 10 km and within a radius of 12 km of the statue. This is aided by the use of two 250-tonne tuned mass dampers which ensure maximum stability.[1][6]

The total height of the structure from its base is 240 m (790 ft), with a base of 58 m (190 ft) and statue of 182 m (597 ft).[1] The height of 182 was specifically chosen to match the number of seats in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly.[4][6]

Funding

The statue was built by Public Private Partnership model, with most of the money raised by the Government of Gujarat. The Gujarat state government had allotted ₹6 billion (US$72 million) for the project in the budget from 2012 to 2015.[11][12] In the 2014–15 Union Budget, ₹2 billion (US$24 million) were allocated for the construction of the statue.[13][14][15] Funds were also contributed by Public Sector Undertakings under Corporate Social Responsibility scheme.[16]

Construction

The statue under construction in January 2018
Approximate heights of various notable statues:
  1. Statue of Unity 240 m (790 ft) (incl. 58 m (190 ft) base)
  2. Spring Temple Buddha 153 m (502 ft) (incl. 25 m (82 ft) pedestal and 20 m (66 ft) throne)
  3. Statue of Liberty (Liberty Enlightening the World) 93 m (305 ft) (incl. 47 m (154 ft) pedestal)
  4. The Motherland Calls 87 m (285 ft) (incl. 2 m (6 ft 7 in) pedestal)
  5. Christ the Redeemer 38 m (125 ft) (incl. 8 m (26 ft) pedestal)
  6. Michelangelo's David 5.17 m (17.0 ft) (excl. 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) plinth)

A consortium comprising Turner Construction, Michael Graves and Associates and the Meinhardt Group supervised the project. It took 56 months to complete – 15 months for planning, 40 months for construction and two months for handing over by the consortium.[17] The total cost of the project was estimated to be about ₹20.63 billion (US$250 million) by the government.[11] The tender bids for the first phase were invited in October 2013 and were closed in November 2013.[18]

Narendra Modi, then serving as Chief Minister of Gujarat, laid the statue's foundation stone on 31 October 2013, the 138th anniversary of Patel's birth.[19][20]

Indian infrastructure company Larsen & Toubro won the contract on 27 October 2014 for its lowest bid of ₹29.89 billion (US$360 million) for the design, construction and maintenance.[21][22] They commenced the construction on 31 October 2014. In the first phase of the project, ₹13.47 billion were for the main statue, ₹2.35 billion for the exhibition hall and convention centre, ₹830 million for the bridge connecting the memorial to the mainland and ₹6.57 billion for the maintenance of the structure for 15 years after its completion.[21][22] The Sadhu Bet hillock was flattened from 70 to 55 metres to lay the foundation.[6]

L&T employed over 3000 workers and 250 engineers in the statue's construction. The core of the statue utilised 210,000 cubic metres (7,400,000 cu ft) of cement concrete, 6500 tonnes of structural steel, and 18500 tonnes of reinforced steel. The outer façade is made up of 1700 tonnes of bronze plates and 1850 tonnes of bronze cladding which in turn comprise 565 macro and 6000 micro panels. The bronze panels were cast in Jiangxi Tongqing Metal Handicrafts Co. Ltd (the TQ Art foundry) in China as suitable facilities were unavailable in India.[23][24][6] The bronze panels were transported over sea and then by road to the workshop near the construction site where they were assembled.[6]

Local tribals belonging to the Tadvi tribe opposed land acquisition for the development of tourism infrastructure around the statue.[25] They have been offered cash and land compensation, and have been provided jobs. People of Kevadia, Kothi, Waghodia, Limbdi, Navagam, and Gora villages opposed the construction of the statue and demanded the restitution of the land rights over 375 hectares (927 acres) of land acquired earlier for the dam as well as the formation of new Garudeshwar subdistrict. They also opposed the formation of Kevadia Area Development Authority (KADA) and the construction of Garudeshwar weir-cum-causeway project. The government of Gujarat accepted their demands.[26]

Construction of the monument was completed in mid-October 2018; and the inaugural ceremony was held on 31 October 2018, presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.[27][28] The statue has been described as a tribute to Indian engineering skills.[29]

Features

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the museum within the complex.

The Statue of Unity is the world's tallest statue at 182 metres (597 ft). It rises 54 metres (177 ft) higher than the previous record holder, the Spring Temple Buddha in China's Henan province.[30] Within India, the record was earlier held by the 41 m (135 ft) statue of Hanuman at the Paritala Anjaneya Temple near Vijayawada in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The statue can be seen within a 7 km (4.3 mi) radius.[6]

The monument is constructed on a river island named Sadhu Bet, 3.2 km (2.0 mi) away from and facing the Narmada Dam downstream.[1] The statue and its surroundings occupy more than 2 hectares (4.9 acres),[citation needed] and are surrounded by a 12 km (7.5 mi) long artificial lake formed by the Garudeshwar weir downstream on the Narmada river.[31][6]

The statue is divided into five zones of which only three are accessible to the public. From its base to the level of Patel's shins is the first zone which has three levels and includes an exhibition area, mezzanine and roof. Zone 1 contains a memorial garden and a museum. The second zone reaches up to Patel's thighs at 149 metres, while the third extends up to the viewing gallery at 153 metres. Zone 4 is the maintenance area while the final zone comprises the head and shoulders of the statue.[32][6]

The museum in zone 1 catalogues the life of Sardar Patel and his contributions. An adjoining audio-visual gallery provides a 15 minute presentation on Patel and also describes the tribal culture of the state.[6] The concrete towers which form the statue's legs contain two elevators each. Each lift can carry 26 people at a time to the viewing gallery in just over 30 seconds. The gallery is located at a height of 153 metres (502 ft) and can hold up to 200 people.[33]

Tourism

Over 128,000 tourists visited it in 11 days since it was opened to the public on 1 November 2018.[34] Buses take tourists from the parking lot to the statue, as the area around the statue is a "no private vehicle" zone. Elevators run from 3 to 5 pm to take tourists with tickets up to the observation deck at the top. The statue remains closed every Monday for maintenance.[35]

Tourists visiting the Statue of Unity in Gujarat's Kevadia, built as a tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, can now enjoy a helicopter ride for a better view of the 182-metre structure.[36][37][38]

  • Statue of Unity, as dedicated on 31 October 2018.
    Statue of Unity, as dedicated on 31 October 2018.
  • Statue of Unity, as seen from the highway.
    Statue of Unity, as seen from the highway.
  • Light and sound show.
    Light and sound show.
  • Statue of Unity, as seen across the lawns.
    Statue of Unity, as seen across the lawns.
  • Statue of Unity, lit at night.
    Statue of Unity, lit at night.
  • Signage and map at Statue of Unity.
    Signage and map at Statue of Unity.
  • Map and direction indicators to the exhibition gallery.
    Map and direction indicators to the exhibition gallery.
  • Statue of Unity, seen from the paved approach walkway.
    Statue of Unity, seen from the paved approach walkway.

Future plans

As of November 2018, construction was still in progress around the statue for various aspects of the project. As per the government, there are plans to introduce alternate means of transport to improve accessibility to the memorial, including a boat service. An amphibian bus from Kevadiya is also planned as is a jetty service from the site of the Sardar Sarovar dam and a ropeway.[6]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ According to a senior Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNL) official, the Gujarat government initially hired an American consultant who commissioned sculptor Joseph Menna to create the Statue of Unity's first digital proof-of-the-concept model. However, once they realised that Menna's model was an adaptation of Ram Sutar's statue of Patel at Ahmedabad airport, the government directed L&T to avail the services of Sutar himself.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Gujarat: Sardar Patel statue to be twice the size of Statue of Liberty". CNN-IBN. 30 October 2013. Archived from the original on 31 October 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "Gujarat: Statue of Unity expected to attract 10,000 tourists daily". The Times of India. 31 October 2018. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  3. ^ "PM Unveils Sardar Patel's 2,900-Crore Statue of Unity Today: 10 Facts". MSN. Archived from the original on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ a b c "For iron to build Sardar Patel statue, Modi goes to farmers". The Indian Express. 8 July 2013. Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "Pan-India panel for Modi's unity show in iron". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 18 November 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Raja, Aditi (23 September 2018). "Iron Man 2.0". The Indian Express. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  7. ^ "Large number of people run for unity". ToI. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Menon, V.P. (15 September 19554). Integration of the Indian States. Bangalore: Orient Blackswan. ISBN 8125054510. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ John, Paul (30 October 2016). "Iron man statue is outsourcing magnet". The Times of India. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  10. ^ Dave, Hiral (14 October 2018). "Behind the making of Statue of Unity". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  11. ^ a b "Gujarat's Statue of Unity to cost Rs 25 billion". Daily News and Analysis. 8 June 2012. Archived from the original on 11 June 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ "L&T to build Statue of Unity, Centre grants Rs 200 crore". The Indian Express. 11 July 2014. Archived from the original on 15 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ "Statue of Unity gets ₹200 crore". The Hindu. 10 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  14. ^ "India's new budget includes $33 million to build the world's tallest statue". The Washington Post. 10 July 2014. Archived from the original on 10 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ "India's Modi budgets $33 million to help build world's tallest statue". Reuters. 10 July 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2014. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ "Fact Check: Who funded the tallest statue of the world?", India Today, 9 November 2018
  17. ^ "Burj Khalifa consultant firm gets Statue of Unity contract". The Times of India. TNN. 22 August 2012. Archived from the original on 27 July 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ "First phase of 'Statue of Unity' to cost Rs 2,063 cr". Business Standard. 28 October 2013. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ "India's Narendra Modi lays foundation stone for 'world's tallest statue'". BBC News. 31 October 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  20. ^ "Ground gets set for Statue of Unity". The Indian Express. 11 October 2013. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ a b "L&T to build Statue of Unity, Centre grants Rs 200 crores". The Indian Express. 11 July 2014. Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ a b "Gujarat govt issues Rs 2,97-cr work order to L&T for Statue of Unity". Business Standard. 28 October 2014. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2014. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ "Sardar Patel's Statue of Unity inauguration today: World's tallest statue is an engineering marvel". Live Mint. 31 October 2018. Archived from the original on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ "Statue of Unity to be unveiled in Gujarat on Wednesday". The Economic Times. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  25. ^ "Indian farmers fume at $430m cost of Gujarat statue". BBC News. 28 October 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  26. ^ "Statue of Unity: Govt bows to villagers' demands". The Times of India. TNN. 28 October 2013. Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  27. ^ "Statue of Unity ready for inauguration on October 31: 10 interesting facts about world's tallest statue". The Financial Express. 13 October 2018. Archived from the original on 13 October 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2018. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ "PM Modi to unveil Statue of Unity on Oct 31: Rupani". Archived from the original on 1 August 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  29. ^ "Statue of Unity is also a tribute to Indian engineering skills". Business Standard. Archived from the original on 28 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  30. ^ Doshi, Vidhi (29 October 2018). "Four times as tall as the Statue of Liberty: India's new monument to its 'Iron Man'". Washington Post. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  31. ^ S Rangan, Pavithra (26 January 2015). "Big Man, Little Folks". Outlook.
  32. ^ "Statue of Unity: Salient features of the world's 'tallest statue'". The Hindu. 31 October 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  33. ^ "All you need to know about Sardar Patel Statue of Unity". India Today. 31 October 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  34. ^ "In 11 Days, Over 1.28 Lakh Tourists Visit Statue Of Unity". NDTV.com. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  35. ^ "Statue of Unity sees record 27,000 visitors on Saturday".
  36. ^ "Statue Of Unity Now Gets A Chopper Ride. Here's How Much It Will Cost". ndtv.com. ndtv.com. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  37. ^ "Watch: Statue of Unity helicopter ride video goes viral". financialexpress.com. financialexpress.com. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  38. ^ "After Ferry Ride, Tourists Can Get An Aerial View Of Statue Of Unity In A Helicopter For Rs 3000". indiatimes.com. indiatimes.com. Retrieved 19 January 2019.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Statue of Unity.
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