Page 12 - E-Patrika 6th English Edition

3. Prominent Places near by Vadodara

S S t a t u e o f U n i t y
Statue of Unityy
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The Statue of Unity is the world's tallest statue, with a height of
182 metres located at Kevadia near the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the

Narmada River in the state of Gujarat, India. It is dedicated to Sardar

Vallabhbhai Patel, known as the “Iron Man of India” for his major

role in uniting princely states after independence, who was the first

deputy prime minister and home minister of independent India.

Sardar Patel played a significant role in the political integration of
India.

The project was first announced in 2010 by Narendra Modi,

then Chief Minister of Gujarat and construction started in October

2013 by Indian company Larsen & Toubro, with a total construction

cost of ₹27 billion (US$422 million).

As a part of an outreach programme for the project, the state
government had asked Indian farmers to donate their used farming

equipment to collect iron needed for the statue of Sardar Patel.

Eventually, about 5000 tonnes of iron is believed to be collected.

Designed by Indian sculptor Ram V. Sutar, it was inaugurated

by India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on 31 October 2018, the
occasion of Patel's 143rd birth anniversary.

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