Journalism of Courage
'Statue of Unity' dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel will be unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 31, marking Patel's birth anniversary. (Express photo by Bhupendra Rana)
Work is on at five major sites that make up the Rs 2,989 crore project. Apart from the statue itself, these include a walkway, ticket counter, food court, four-lane approach highway, a yard where the parts are being assembled, and the Shrestha Bharat Bhavan (a 52-room three-star lodging facility). (Express photo by Bhupendra Rana)
The 182-metre statue of Sardar Patel is “the world’s tallest statue”, more than than double the 93-metre Statue of Liberty, off the coast of New York City. (Express photo by Bhupendra Rana)
The statue will have about 1,850 metric tonnes or 18.5 lakh kilogrammes of bronze cladding in all. The amount of steel and concrete used would be several times more. (Express photo by Bhupendra Rana)
The height was picked as ‘182’ metre to match the total Assembly constituencies in Gujarat. It is visible from a 7-km radius. (Express photo by Bhupendra Rana)
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. (Express photo by Bhupendra Rana)
Zone 2 extends up to the statue’s thighs at 149 metres, while Zone 3 goes up to the viewing gallery at 157 metres. (Express photo by Bhupendra Rana)
Zone 4 and 5 would be out of reach of visitors, with Zone 4 comprising the maintenance area and Zone 5 the head and shoulders. (Express photo by Bhupendra Rana)
