The World’s Tallest Statue Unveiled in India
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India has unveiled the world’s tallest statue — The Statue of Unity, which stands at the height of 182 meters (597 ft) in the western state of Gujarat.The bronze clad statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was unveiled on October 31, marking the 143rd birth a
The World’s Tallest Statue Unveiled in India
India has unveiled the world’s tallest statue — The Statue of Unity, which stands at the height of 182 meters (597 ft) in the western state of Gujarat.The bronze clad statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was unveiled on October 31, marking the 143rd birth anniversary of India’s independence leader. Known as the “Iron Man of India,” Sardar Patel played a leading role in integrating over 500 princely states into a united, independent India. He served as the first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of the country. The memorial, according to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stands as “a symbol of India’s integrity and resolve.” The Statue of Unity surpasses the Spring Temple Buddha, which was previously the tallest in the world at 128 meters. The structure is almost twice as tall as New York’s Statue of Liberty.Conceptualized by Indian sculptor Ram V. Sutar, the design and construction involved a multi-firm consortium including Michael Graves Architecture & Design and Turner Construction, the names behind Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. The statue’s main structural support of twin concrete cores is surrounded with steel scaffolding that acts as a support system for the series of cast bronze panels that form the statue’s outermost surface.Jairam Panch, Turner’s vice president and managing director for India, said: “In a symbolic act to represent the unified nation, iron was gathered from across India and then melted and utilized in the project.”Talking about the magnitude of the statue, Jairam Panch: “For the exterior of the statue, workers pieced together 553 macro bronze panels comprising approximately 6,000 micro panels. The final bronze panel was installed on October 11, 2018.” He continued: “The choice of bronze cladding epitomizes the dignity and enduring values attributed to this important statesman, and the bronze will go through a natural aging process to develop a rich green patina over time.”According to Turner Construction, the memorial has been conceived as a naturalistic and historically accurate representation of Sardar Patel assuming a walking pose. Built on Sadhu Island in the Narmada River, the statue rises above a geometric star-shaped platform. An exhibition hall at the statue’s base provides accounts of the life and accomplishments of Sardar Patel and the history of modern India. A 200-person viewing gallery at 153 meters, near the chest of the statue, provides panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.Located around 200 km from the city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat, the memorial with its surroundings spans more than 20,000 square meters. The statue is encompassed by a 12 sq km artificial lake. The steel and bronze structure weighs about 67,000 tons, and has been built to withstand earthquakes and heavy winds. The exterior is created from around 12,000 bronze panels weighing almost 1,850 tons. More than 2,000 workers along with several hundred migrant labourers from China have constructed the structure, which has been built at the cost of Rs 29.9 billion (£330m; $430m).http://www.blouinartinfo.com/ Founder: Louise Blouin Read more
