Statue of Unity

CHAPTER-1

INTRODUCTION
The staue of unity is a colossal statue of Indian statesman and independence activist
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (1875–1950) who was the first Home minister of
independent India and the chief adherent of Mahatma Gandhi during the non-violent Indian
Independence movement; highly respected for his leadership in uniting the 562 princely
states of India to form the single large Union of India. It is located in the state of Gujarat,
India. It is the world tallest statue with a height of 182 metres (597 ft). It is located on a river
island facing the Sardar Sarovar Dam on river Narmada in Kevadiya colony, 100 kilometres
(62 mi) southeast of the city of Vadodara.[2]

The project was first announced in 2010 and the construction of statue started in
October 2013 by Larsen & Toubro, who received the contract for ₹2,989 crore (US$420
million). It was designed by Indian sculptor Ram V. Sutar, and was inaugurated by Indian
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 31 October 2018, the 143rd anniversary of Patel's birth.

1.1 History

Sardar Patel played a major role in the consolidation of 562 princely states of India.
The unification forms what is known as the modern political boundary of the country
today.He also contributed to the success of the Indian independence movementand later
emerged as one of the founding fathers of the Republic of India. Evidently, Sardar Patel
earned an image of a noble, kind, and iron-willed leader.

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Narendra Modi first announced the project to commemorate Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
on 7 October 2010 at a press conference to mark the beginning of his 10th year as the Chief
Minister of Gujarat. At the time, the project was dubbed, "Gujarat's tribute to the nation".

A special purpose vehicle named the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Rashtriya Ekta Trust
(SVPRET) was constituted by the Government of Gujarat for executing the project.An
outreach 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 farmers to donate their
used farming instruments. By 2016, total 135 metric tonnes of scrap iron had been collected
and about 109 tonnes of it was used to make the foundation of the statue after processing. A
marathon entitled Run For Unity was held on 15 December 2013 in surat and in Vadodara in
support of the project

1.2 Project Plan

The Statue of Unity is one of the largest projects in the world, in terms of magnitude
and scale. For modern India, it will be the first crowd-funded monument, being built on a
Public Private Partnership (PPP) model with the funds required for the project to be raised
through private and public contributions, both. Additionally, iron from used farming
implements and soil collected from villages across the country is being utilized in the
construction of the project, ensuring that Indians from all walks of life get a chance to
actively participate in the construction of this icon of national unity, in most of the ways
possible.

The Statue of unity is iconic 182 meter tall landmark statue dedicated to sardar
vallabhbhai Patel,a visionary leader and statesman hailed as the iron man of india, due to this
pivotal role in the country's struggle for independence and subsequent integration.post
completion in 2018,the Statue of unity will be the world tallest statue.

As a memorial to Sardar Patel, the Statue of Unity will provide visitors a meaningful
experience that both educates and entertains, by focusing on his personage, life, and
accomplishments. To this end, the statue is conceived as a naturalistic and historically
accurate representation of Sardar Patel, wearing his characteristic garments, and assuming a

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walking stance. Additionally, a viewing gallery at around 500 feet will provide visitors a
spectacular view of the Sardar Sarovar dam and its environs.

A special purpose vehicle established by the government of Gujarat for the

construction of the statue, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Rashtriya Ekta Trust (SVPRET), is
developing the Statue of Unity project in the area surrounding the Sardar Sarovar Dam in the
Narmada district of Gujarat. Through this project, the government intends to promote
inclusive and equitable socio economic growth in the region with tourism development as the
key tool. This involves the development of multiple tourist attractions in the region coupled
with infrastructure creation for promotion of education, research, health, rural and tribal
development

For the purpose of the execution of the iconic Statue of Unity project, the government
of Gujarat has created a special purpose vehicle - Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Rastriya Ekta
Trust (SVPRET). It is registered as a Trust and a Society under the Bombay Trust Act and
Bombay Societies Act, and is the main body responsible for planning and development of the
project. SVPRET's envisaged objectives are focused towards the development and promotion
of sites centered on historical leaders with associated development of activities in the field of
education, livelihood generation, environment protection, renewable and clean energy, health
and hygiene especially for tribal populace among others. Eco-tourism, fisheries development,
study and research in related fields like humanities, tribal development are also a part of the
objectives of the Trust.

SVPRET is governed by a Governing Council chaired by the Hon'ble Chief Minister

of the state of Gujarat. Members of the Board include the Chief Secretary of the state
government, and other senior government officials from various departments that include
Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited, Road and Buildings among others.

1.3 Design

The statue depicts Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the most prominent leaders of the Indian
independence movement, the first Deputy Prime Minister of India, and responsible for

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the unification of hundreds of princely states to form the modern political boundary of
India.The Statue of Unity is an enlarged version of this statue in the Ahmedabad
International Airport. After studying numerous statues of Patel across the country, a team of
historians, artists, and academics chose to proceed with a design submitted by the Indian
sculptor, Ram V. Sutar.

The Statue of Unity is a much larger replica of a statue of the leader installed
at Ahmedabad International Airport. Commenting on the design, Ram Sutar's son, Anil Sutar
explains that "the expression, posture and pose justify the dignity, confidence, iron will as
well as kindness that his personal exudes. The head is up, a shawl flung from shoulders and
hands are on the side as if he is set to walk". Three models of the design measuring 3 feet
(0.91 m), 18 feet (5.5 m), and 30 feet (9.1 m) were initially created. Once the design of the
largest model was approved, a detailed 3D-scan was produced which formed the basis for the
bronze cladding cast in a foundry in China.

Patel's dhoti-clad legs and the use of sandals for footwear rendered the design thinner
at the base than at the top thereby affecting its stability. This was addressed by maintaining
a slenderness ratio of 16:19 rather than the customary 8:14 ratio of other tall buildings.The
statue is built to withstand winds of up to 180 kilometres per hour (110 mph) and earthquakes
measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale which are at a depth of 10 km and within a radius of
12 km of the statue. This is aided by the use of two 250-tonne tuned mass dampers which
ensure maximum stability.

The total height of the structure is 240 m (790 ft), with a base of 58 m (190 ft) and
statue of 182 m (597 ft). The height of 182 was specifically chosen to match the number of
seats in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly

1.4 Location
The Statue of Unity is located on the Sadhu Bet Island on the Narmada River between
Satpura and the Vindhya mountain ranges. It is built in a way that it faces the Sardar Sarovar
Dam on the Narmada River in Vadodara, Gujarat and as being located on a river island. An
artificial lake has been created around the Statue of Unity surrounding the statue in a
beautiful way.

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1.5 Construction

Fig1.5.1: Statue of Unity 2018 Progress

Indian infrastructure company Larsen & Toubro won the contract on 27 October 2014
for its lowest bid of ₹29.89 billion (US$420 million) for the design, construction and
maintenance. 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. The Sadhu
Bet hillock was flattened from 70 to 55 metres to lay the foundation.

Fig1.5.2: Pictured above is the primary steel erection

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In addition to the statue itself, MGA&D designed the master plan for the entire
project, including the phased development of a hotel, convention center, memorial garden,
visitor’s center, a quarter mile long bridge connecting the visitor center to Sadhu Island and
the statue, and miles of roadways and bridges that connect the statue to the town of Kevadia.

L&T employed over 3000 workers and 250 engineers in the statue's construction. The
core of the statue utilised 210,000 cubic metres (7,400,000 cu ft) of cement concrete, 6500
tonnes of structural steel, and 18500 tonnes of reinforced steel. The outer façade is made up
of 1700 tonnes of bronze plates and 1850 tonnes of bronze cladding which in turn comprise
565 macro and 6000 micro panels. The bronze panels were cast in Jiangxi Tongqing Metal
Handicrafts Co. Ltd (the TQ Art foundry) in China as suitable facilities were unavailable in
India. The bronze panels were transported over sea and then by road to the workshop near the
construction site where they were assembled.

Fig 1.5.3 Birdseye view of progress to the Statue of Unity construction.

The project will provide an engaging and memorable experience which will include
architectural and experiential features such as a visitor’s center with cable suspended
stretched skin canopy, interactive museum, expansive food and beverage market and a
breathtaking viewing deck 160 meters above the waters of the Narmada River. A notable
construction milestone has been reached in the completion of internal twin concrete cores,
thus meaning the main structural support is now complete. The twin cores will serve as both
primary vertical circulation and structural support. Completion of this work has paved the
way for commencement of the erection of secondary structural steel scaffolding which will
serve as the support system for the individual bronze panels.

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Fig. 1.5.4: The bronze cladding process has begun.

Artist and sculpture, Ram V. Sutar, first modeled the Statue of Unity as a 30-foot tall
“miniature” version in his workshop. From this model a full-size digital model of the
sculpture was realized, an intensive process of translation which required the skilled hand
and eye of sculptors and fabricators well-versed in the manufacture of massive statuary. This
model was then divide into roughly equal sized to form the outer “skin” of the 466-foot tall
statue. The exterior of the statue will consist of a series of cast bronze segments called micro-
panels. The micro panels are arranged in a series of rings that are supported on the structural
steel scaffolding that will be hung from the internal twin concrete cores. These rings are first
tested for fit at a nearby mock up area; they are first assembled on the ground to form a
complete ring (as seen in the image below) to allow workers to make final adjustments prior
to craning the pieces into place. Once the section is measured, adjusted and approved, the
panels are separated into manageable sections and lifted one by one into place. Documented
here is the erection and final placement and installation of the first micro-panel.

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Fig 1.5.5: The final placement and installation of the first micro-panel.

The primary viewing area will be located in the chest of the statue, providing not only
panoramic views, but the opportunity for visitors to experience and explore the internal
structure of the statue and to witness first-hand the detailing of the micro panels and their
assembly. The observation deck and will provide sweeping, picturesque views of the nearby
Sardar Sarovar Dam, Narmada River, as well as the lush Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary
that surrounds the site and extends for miles around. We look forward to watching the statue
develop and take form as the final portions of construction are finished. The Statue of Unity
is scheduled to be completed in 2018, we are eagerly anticipating the final product.

Fig 1.5.6: A crane lifts a piece of the bronze cladding to the head

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Local tribals belonging to the Tadvi tribe opposed land acquisition for the
development of tourism infrastructure around the statue. They have been offered cash and
land compensation, and have been provided jobs. 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.

Fig 1.5.7: The above section of the statue shows the structure of the statue itself as well
as the building beneath.

Construction of the monument was completed in mid-October 2018; and the

inaugural ceremony was held on 31 October 2018, presided over by Prime Minister Narendra
Modi.The statue has been described as a tribute to Indian engineering skills.

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1.6 Statue of Unity Back Ground

 Statue of Unity project was first announced on 7 October 2010

 The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Rashtriya Ekta Trust (SVPRET) was established by the Gujarat
government for construction of the statue.
 Statue of Unity Movement – a drive was started to support the construction of the statue.
 The Movement helped in collecting the iron required for the construction of statue. Indian
farmers were asked to donate their used farming instruments
 The movement helped in collecting 5,000 tonnes of iron. 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
 The Statue of Unity Movement organised a Suraaj ("good governance") petition. The petition
was signed by around 20 million people and was termed as the world's largest petition.
 A marathon ‘Run For Unity’ was held on 15 December 2013 in several places throughout
India
 Statue’s Foundation stone was laid by Narendra Modi, the then serving Chief Minister of
Gujarat on 31 October 2013, the 138th Birth Anniversary of Sardar Patel

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1.6 Features

Fig 1.8: Drone image of the statue’s feet and surrounding area

The Statue of Unity is the world's tallest statue at 182 metres (597 ft). It rises 54
metres (177 ft) higher than the previous record holder, the Spring Temple Buddha in
China's Henan province.The previous tallest statue in India was the 41 m (135 ft) statue
of Hanuman at the Paritala Anjaneya Temple near Vijayawada in the state of Andhra
Pradesh. The statue can be seen within a 7 km (4.3 mi) radius. The monument is constructed
on a river island named Sadhu Bet, 3.2 km (2.0 mi) away from and facing the Narmada
Dam downstream. The statue and its surroundings occupy more than 2 hectares (4.9
acres), and are surrounded by a 12 km (7.5 mi) long artificial lake formed by the
Garudeshwar weirdownstream on the Narmada river.

The statue is divided into five zones of which only three are accessible to the public.
From its base to the level of Patel's shins is the first zone which has three levels and includes
an exhibition area, mezzanine and roof. Zone 1 contains a memorial garden and a museum,
which displays articles and items commemorating the life of Patel and his various
contributions to the making of free India. The second zone reaches up to Patel's thighs, while
the third extends up to the viewing gallery at 153 metres. Zone 4 is the maintenance area
while the final zone comprises the head and shoulders of the statue. An adjoining audio-
visual gallery provides a 15 minute presentation on Patel and also describes the tribal culture
of the state. The concrete towers which form the statue's legs contain two elevators each.

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Each lift can carry 26 people at a time to the viewing gallery in just over 30 seconds. The
gallery is located at a height of 153 metres (502 ft) and can hold up to 200 people.

1.7 Approximate heights of various notable statues

1. Statue of Unity 240 m (incl. 58 m base)

2. Spring Temple Buddha 153 m (incl. 25 m pedestal and 20 m throne)
3. Statue of Liberty 93 m (incl. 47 m pedestal)
4. The Motherland calls 87 m (incl. 2 m pedestal)
5. Christ the Redeemer 38 m (incl. 8 m pedestal)
6. Michelangelo's David 5.17 m (excl. 2.5m plinth)

A consortium comprising Turner Construction, Michael Graves and Associates and

the 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.
The total cost of the project was estimated to be about ₹20.63 billion(US$290 million) by the
government. The tender bids for the first phase were invited in October 2013 and were closed
in November 2013.Narendra Modi, then serving as Chief Minister of Gujarat, laid the statue's
foundation stone on 31 October 2013, the 138th anniversary of Patel's birth.
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CHAPTER-2

LITERATURE REVIEW
The New Indian Express.et.al(2018): The paper entitled “The history behind the
construction of statue of unity” In this paper A special purpose vehicle named the Sardar
Vallabhbhai Patel Rashtriya Ekta Trust (SVPRET) was constituted by the Government of
Gujarat for executing the project. An outreach 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 farmers to donate their used farming instruments.

Hindustan Times.et.al(2018): The paper entitled “The construction and Design of

statue of unity” In this paper a brief construction procedure about The Statue of unity by an
Indian infrastructure company Larsen & Toubro by won the contract on 27 October 2014 for
its lowest bid of ₹29.89 billion for the design, construction and maintenance.

The Times of India.et.al (2018): The paper entitled “Features of Statue of Unity” In
this paper features that contains Zones divided in the Statue of Unity i,e . Zone 1 contains a
memorial garden and a museum. The second zone reaches up to Patel's thighs, while the third
extends up to the viewing gallery at 153 metres. Zone 4 is the maintenance area while the
final zone comprises the head and shoulders of the statue.

The Indian Express.et.al(2018): The paper entitled “The heights of various notable
Statues” In this paper Famous statues statues such as Spring Temple Buddha, Statue of
Liberty, The Motherland calls, Christ the Redeemer , Michelangelo's David Statue heights
are compared.

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CHAPTER-3

ADVANTAGES
 Statue of Unity, the world’s highest statue is not only a tribute to the Iron Man of India, but
also is the first such tourist attraction located in India and is termed ‘Pride of Nation’
 A sense of patriotism and united India is infused within the hearts of the people who visit the
Statue of Unity or even have a glimpse of it
 The statue is estimated to remain as it is for 1000 years. It implies that it will continue
contributing to the national income of India through tourism for 10 centuries
 Since the Statue has been built on PPP model, the public money spent on it is less than the
private money spent on it.
 L&T spent the major part of the money in constructing the statue. Around 10% of the amount
spent is contributed by the Government.
 The Statue of Unity will help in increasing tourism income and a large area with Hotels,
transport and other services will develop fast
 Thousands of people in Narmada District and nearby areas will get employment opportunity
directly or indirectly
 It is estimated that more than 10 Lakh tourists will visit the Statue of Unity every year. This
will help in generating huge income from tourism and transportation and other services.
Entire money spent on the construction is expected to be recovered in the next 35-40 years.

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CHAPTER-4

CONCLUSION

 Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s contribution to freedom struggle is in no way less to

Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru but was forgotten in history. What
was not recognized all these years has been brought in front of the whole world
through ‘The Statue of Unity’.

 In general, the Statue of Unity has without a doubt been fruitful in stealing the
thunder globally. The Statue of Unity is an image of the developing financial quality
of India. Then again, it likewise grandstands the crafting skills of Indian engineers.
On a greater sense, the Statue of Unity has positively risen as the ‘Pride of the
Nation’ and also serves as a befitting tribute to the nation’s most well-spoken
statesman – Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

 Overall, the Statue of Unity has indeed been successful in stealing the show globally.
The sculpture is a symbol of the growing economic strength of India. On the other
hand, it also showcases the crafting skills of Indian engineers.

 In the coming days, the statue would eventually turn into the biggest center of
attraction and flourish the tourism business in the country. The whole designing,
constructing, and maintenance requirements have also created enormous job
opportunities for a large number of people.
 Thus, on a larger level, the Statue of Unity has certainly emerged as the ‘Pride of the
Nation’ for more than one reasons.

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References
[1] "Gujarat: Statue of Unity expected to attract 10,000 tourists daily". The Times of India.
31 October 2018. Retrieved 10 November 2018.

[2] "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.

[3] "Pan-India panel for Modi's unity show in iron". The New Indian Express. Archived from
the original on 18 November 2013. Retrieved 15 November2013.

[4] Raja[1], Aditi[2]. "Iron Man 2.0". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2018-11-16.

[5]John, Paul [1]"Iron man statue is outsourcing magnet". The Times of India. Retrieved 9
November 2018.

[6]Dave[1], Hiral[2] "Behind the making of Statue of Unity". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 9
November 2018.

[7] "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.

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