In Pics: PM unveils Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 182-metre tall ‘Statue Of Unity’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday unveiled the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, christened ‘Statue Of Unity’.

The monument was unveiled today on the occasion of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, which marks the 143rd birth anniversary of the ‘Iron Man of India’.

“Had Sardar Patel not united the country, we would need visas to see lions or pay homage at Somnath or view the Charminar in Hyderabad,” the prime minister said during the ceremony.

At 182-metres, the world’s tallest statue is a testament to the sheer resolve and determination with which the former Home Minister and Commander-in-Chief got over 500 princely states to accede to India following the independence struggle.

A spectacle to behold. @IAF_MCC paints the sky tricolour in salute to the Iron Man #SardarVallabhbhaiPatel #RashtriyaEktaDiwas #NationalUnityDay #StatueOfUnity pic.twitter.com/HbooiVO1NQ

— PIB India (@PIB_India) October 31, 2018

The imposing monument is twice the height of the Statue of Liberty in the US and is built on an islet, Sadhu Bet, near the Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat’s Narmada district.

Notable facts about the Statue of Unity:

* The structure was built by infrastructure giant Larsen & Toubro at a cost of Rs 2,989 crore.

* It was completed in a record time of 33 months.

* 180,000 cubic metres of cement concrete, 18,500 tonnes of reinforced steel, 6,500 tonnes of structured steel, 1,700 tonnes of bronze and 1,850 tonnes of bronze cladding went into making the statue.

* The statue is conceived as a naturalistic depiction of Sardar Patel in characteristic garb and a walking pose.

* The walking pose meant a narrow base of the structure, which required additional planning and strengthening to ensure it could withstand wind speeds of up to 180 km per hour and earthquakes measuring up to 6.5 on the Richter Scale.

* Over 2,000 photographs were collected from archives and several historians were consulted to zero in on the 2-dimensional photograph that would later be converted into a 3-dimensional model.

* The sculptor Ram Suthar made a 30 feet bronze replica which was scanned into electronic data and converted into a grid for the actual size.

* The data grid was taken to the foundry for casting the final bronze claddings. Thousands of claddings were put together like a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle to complete the structure.

* The statue is divided into five zones. Up to its shin is the first zone, comprising three levels, including an exhibit floor, mezzanine, and roof. It will contain a Memorial Garden and a large museum.

* Zone 2 extends up to the statue’s thighs at 149 metres, while Zone 3 goes up to the viewing gallery at 153 metres. Zone 4 comprises the maintenance area and Zone 5 the head and shoulders.

* The viewing gallery can accommodate up to 200 people at a time. It will offer a spectacular view of the Satpura and Vindhyachal mountain ranges, which also form the point where Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra meet.

* In the lobby area at the entrance of the statue, a Museum and Audio Visual Gallery will feature 15-minute presentations on the life of Patel and the tribal culture of Gujarat.

Statue of Unity Pictures: