Statue of Unity gets Rs. 200 crore

The larger than life image of "Iron Man" Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, Statue of Unity is touted to be the world’s tallest structure when it’s completed.

This handout image received from the Gujarat Information Bureau on October 31, 2013, depicts the proposed 'Statue of Unity' of India's first home minister, Sardar Patel to be built near the Narmada Dam site at Kevadia village, some 190 kms from Ahmedabad. The tribute to Sardar Patel, the first home minister of independent India, is set to be twice the size of the Statue of Liberty and four times higher than Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro and will rise 182 metres (600 feet) from an island in the Narmada river when completed in four years' time. AFP PHOTO/GUJARAT INFORMATION BUREAU ----EDITORS NOTE---- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / GUJARAT INFORMATION BUREAU" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS ------

In another step towards realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream project, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley proposed, in his budget speech on Thursday, setting aside Rs.200 crore for the erection of the Statue of Unity in Gujarat.

The larger than life image of “Iron Man” Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, Statue of Unity is touted to be the world’s tallest structure when it’s completed.

 “Government of Gujarat has embarked upon the mission to build the largest statue of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel. Sardar Patel stands as the symbol of the unity of the country,” said Mr. Jaitley.

 “To support the Gujarat Government in this initiative to erect the Statue of Unity, I propose to set aside a sum of Rs.200 crore,” he said.

 The 182 metres (597 feet) tall monument is planned to come up at Sadhu Bet, directly facing the Sardar Sarovar dam — also named after Sardar Patel — on the Narmada river, near Bharuch in Gujarat.

 Mr. Modi had announced the construction of the monument, expected to cost about Rs.2500 crore, in October last year.

 The project is also expected to contribute to livelihood generation, tribal development and environment protection among other things.

 The Statue of Unity is touted to be double the height of the Statue of Liberty in the USA and five times taller than Brazilian attraction Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro.