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Statue of Unity

Coordinates: 21°50′17″N 73°43′09″E / 21.8380°N 73.7191°E / 21.8380; 73.7191
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Statue of Unity
The statue as viewed on 24 October 2018
Map
21°50′17″N 73°43′09″E / 21.8380°N 73.7191°E / 21.8380; 73.7191
LocationNarmada 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)
Opening date31 October 2018; 6 years ago (2018-10-31)
Dedicated toIndia
Websitestatueofunity.in

The Statue of Unity is a statue of Indian statesman and founding father Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (1875–1950) in the Narmada district of Gujarat, India. It is the world's tallest statue, with a height of 182 metres (597 ft) or about two times as tall as the Statue of Liberty (excluding the pedestal).[2][3] Patel was 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 is on a river-island facing the Narmada Dam (also called the Sardar Sarovar dam) near Rajpipla, 100 kilometres southeast of the city of Vadodara.

The monument and its surroundings occupy more than 2 hectares (4.9 acres), and are surrounded by a 12 km2 (4.6 sq mi; 3,000 acres) artificial lake. It was built by Larsen & Toubro, who received the contract for ₹2,989 crore (US$420 million) for the design, construction, and maintenance in October 2014. The construction was started on 31 October 2014 and completed in mid-October 2018. It was designed by Indian sculptor Ram V. Sutar,[4][5] and was dedicated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 31 October 2018, the 143rd anniversary of Patel's birth.[6][7][8][9] Tickets are currently available to buy online, on the the website of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Rashtriya Ekta Trust.

Outreach

Vallabhbhai Patel was one of the founding fathers of the Republic of India
Aerial view of the Statue of Unity, 2018.

The project was first announced on 7 October 2010.[10] The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Rashtriya Ekta Trust (SVPRET) was established by the Gujarat government for construction of the statue.[11] A 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 Indian farmers to donate their used farming instruments.[12][13][14] Ultimately 5,000 tonnes (4,900 long tons; 5,500 short tons) of iron were collected.[15][14] Although it was initially intended for the statue, it was later decided that the collected iron would instead be used for other parts of the project.[16][better source needed]

Run for Unity in December 2013

The Statue of Unity Movement organised a Suraaj ("good governance" in Hindi) petition which was signed by an estimated 20 million people, which was the world's largest petition.[13] A marathon entitled Run For Unity was held on 15 December 2013 in several places throughout India.[17][18]

Project

The statue depicts Vallabhbhai Patel, a leader of the Indian independence movement and the country's first Deputy Prime Minister. It is constructed on an island named Sadhu Bet, 3.2 km (2.0 mi) away from and facing the Narmada Dam. 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). It is constructed with steel framing, reinforced cement concrete, and bronze cladding.[1] The statue's construction took 75,000 cubic metres (2,600,000 cu ft) of concrete, 5,700 tonnes (5,600 long tons; 6,300 short tons) of steel structure, 18,500 tonnes (18,200 long tons; 20,400 short tons) of reinforced steel rods, and 22,500 tonnes (22,100 long tons; 24,800 short tons) of bronze sheets.[19][20][21]

Finance

The statue was built on a Public Private Partnership model, with most of the money raised by the Government of Gujarat. The Government of India had allotted ₹3 billion (US$36 million) for the project in the budget from 2012 to 2016[22][23] In the 2014–15 Union Budget, ₹2 billion (US$24 million) were allocated for the construction of the statue.[24][25][26]

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 (project manager[27] of Burj Khalifa), Michael Graves and Associates and 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.[21] The total cost of the project was estimated to be about ₹20.63 billion (US$250 million) by the government.[22] The tender bids for the first phase were invited in October 2013 and were closed in November 2013.[28]

Narendra Modi, then serving as Chief Minister of Gujarat, laid the statue's foundation stone on 31 October 2013, the 138th anniversary Patel's birth.[10][29][30][31]

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.[32][19] 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.[32][19] Accenture provides digital media outreach program. The monument is designed by Ram V. Sutar.[33][34]

The statue was completed in 33 months. The foundation was laid down in 2013; construction was completed in mid-October 2018; and the inaugural ceremony was held on 31 October 2018, presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.[35][36][37][38] The statue has been described as a tribute to Indian engineering skills.[39]

Issues

Local tribals belonging to the Tadvi tribe opposed land acquisition for the development of tourism infrastructure around the statue.[40] They have been offered cash and land compensation, and have been provided jobs. Activists like Medha Patkar and Gladson Dungdung have also opposed the project.[41][42] They also claimed that Sadhu Bet was originally called Varata Bawa Tekri, named after a local deity, and so it was a site of religious importance.[29]

Environmental activists wrote a letter to the central government contending that project implementation started without clearance from the Environment Ministry.[43] 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.[44]

When ₹200 crore (US$24 million) was allocated for the statue in the 2014–15 Union budget, several people and political parties criticised the expenditure on the statue over other priorities, such as women's safety, education and agricultural schemes.[45][46][47][48] L&T contracted with TQ Art Foundry – a subsidiary of the Jiangxi Toqine Company based in Nanchang, China – for the bronze cladding of the statue, which was criticised by the Indian National Congress, the opposition party in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly.[49] It was later clarified by Swarajyamag that 9 percent of the total value of the project was sourced from China.[50]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "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. ^ Ashwani Sharma (1 November 2014). "14 Things You Did Not Know about Sardar Patel, the Man Who United India". Topyaps. Archived from the original on 4 January 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2014. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "Gujarat: Statue of Unity expected to attract 10,000 tourists daily".
  4. ^ "All you need to know about Ram Vanji Sutar, sculptor behind the Statue of Unity, 50 other sculptures of politicians". firstpost.com. Archived from the original on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "Ram Vanji Sutar: Meet the Noida Sculptor Who Pored Over 2,000 Photos to Design Statue of Unity". news18.com. Archived from the original on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ "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)
  7. ^ "Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's Statue of Unity inaugurated by PM Modi in Gujarat's Kevadiya". The Economic Times. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  8. ^ "PM Modi inaugurates Statue of Unity: Why you should visit it this winter". India Today. Archived from the original on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "PM Modi unveils Statue of Unity on the banks of the Narmada". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 1 November 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ a b "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)
  11. ^ "Statue of Unity: 36 new offices across India for collecting iron". The Times of India. TNN. 18 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)
  12. ^ Hiral Dave. "For iron to build Sardar Patel statue, Modi goes to farmers". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2018. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ a b "The Indian Republic". The Indian Republic. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ a b "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)
  15. ^ "Statue of Unity: 36 new offices across India for collecting iron". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 31 October 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ "Farmers' iron not to be used for Sardar Patel statue". dna. 9 December 2013. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ "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)
  18. ^ "PM Modi unveils Sardar Patel's Statue of Unity: 'It's an answer to those who question India's existence'". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ a b c "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)
  20. ^ "Statue of Unity to be unveiled in Gujarat on Wednesday". The Economic Times. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  21. ^ a b "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)
  22. ^ 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)
  23. ^ "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)
  24. ^ "Statue of Unity gets Rs. 200 crore". The Hindu. 10 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  25. ^ "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)
  26. ^ "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)
  27. ^ "Burj Khalifa – The Skyscraper Center". Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ BS (28 October 2013). "First phase of 'Statue of Unity' to cost Rs 2,063 cr". Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  29. ^ a b "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)
  30. ^ "World's tallest statue coming up in Gujarat". Daily News and Analysis. 7 October 2010. Archived from the original on 6 August 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  31. ^ "Interesting things you should know about 'The Statue of Unity'". The Economic Times. 1 November 2013. Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  32. ^ 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 web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  33. ^ "Project teams – Statue of Unity". Archived from the original on 10 May 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  34. ^ "'Statue of Unity' To Be Completed in 2 Years: Renowned Sculptor Ram Sutar". NDTV.com. 12 May 2016. Archived from the original on 1 August 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |website= (help); Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  35. ^ "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)
  36. ^ "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)
  37. ^ "Statue of Unity ready for inauguration on October 31: 10 interesting facts about world's tallest statue – The Financial Express". The Financial Express. Archived from the original on 14 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  38. ^ "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 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  39. ^ "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)
  40. ^ Indian farmers fume at $430m cost of Gujarat statue, BBC 28 October 2018
  41. ^ Statue of Unity: An open letter to Sardar Patel by activist Medha Patkar, October 31, 2018
  42. ^ आदिवासियों के विनाश का साक्षी है ‘स्टैच्यू ऑफ यूनिटी’, Galdson Dungdung, Oct 24, 2018
  43. ^ "Statue of Unity project has no environmental clearance, say activists". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 23 December 2013. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2014. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  44. ^ "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)
  45. ^ "Budget 2014: Indians balk at ₹2 billion statue of Sardar Patel". The Times of India. Associated Press. 10 July 2014. Archived from the original on 11 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  46. ^ Edited Deepshikha Ghosh (10 July 2014). "Budget 2014: 200 Cr For PM Modi's Sardar Patel Statue vs 150 cr For Women's Safety". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2014. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help); Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  47. ^ "Budget 2014 live: 200 crore for Sardar statue sparks outrage on Twitter". Firstpost. 10 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  48. ^ "Twitterati slam Rs 200 crore in budget for Patel statue The Indian Express". 10 July 2014. Archived from the original on 11 July 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2014. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  49. ^ "Statue of Unity to be 'made in China', Gujarat govt says it's contractor's call". The Indian Express. 20 October 2015. Archived from the original on 16 May 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  50. ^ "Was The Statue of Unity Really Made in China? Here Are The Facts". Archived from the original on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
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