Bronze cladding is being added to a 182m tall statue of India statesman and independence leader Vallabhbhai "Sardar" Patel in the Indian state of Gujarat prior to its completion later this year.
The "Statue of Unity" will be some 182m tall and stand on a 58m-high plinth, making it the tallest in the world – three times taller than Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro and twice the size of the Statue of Liberty in New York.
The project’s internal structural core has been completed, with the concrete framework supporting a steel framework, on which the cladding will be placed.
Image courtesy of Michael Graves Architecture & Design
In 2014 Mumbai contractor Larsen & Toubro won a contract to design and build the statue. It has been working with US firm Michael Graves Architecture & Design on the scheme.Â
When fitted out, the chest of the statue will contain a viewing area, allowing visitors to take in the nearby Sardar Sarovar Dam, Narmada River, and the Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. It will also show part of the inside of the structure, such as the core and paneling.
A height comparison of the world’s tallest statues (http://www.statueofunity.in/)
In addition to the statue, the team will build a hotel, convention centre, memorial garden, visitor’s centre, as well as a bridge and road connections between the statue, visitor centre and the town of Kevadia.
The statue is being built on Sadhu-Bet Island, 3.5km south of the Sardar Sarovar Dam in the Narmada district of Gujarat, where Patel was born.
Image courtesy of Michael Graves Architecture & Design
Sadhu-Bet is not currently an island but was before the construction of the dam. The area will return to its original state after the construction of a weir is completed, adding 6m of water to the area.Â
Top image courtesy of Michael Graves Architecture & Design
