World’s Tallest Statue Inaugurated by Prime Minister of India

The world’s tallest statue, the Statue of Unity, was recently inaugurated in the Indian state of Gujarat with a ceremony officiated by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. At 182 meters (597 feet), the Statue of Unity is two times the height of the Statue of Liberty in New York City and surpasses the height of the world’s previous tallest statue—China’s Spring Temple Buddha­—by 29 meters (95 feet).

The Statue of Unity depicts India’s first Deputy Prime Minister, the freedom fighter Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Sardar Patel is known for his leadership during India’s struggle for independence, as well as his unifying power. He worked—and succeeded at—integrating more than 500 princely states to create a unified India. In doing so, he earned the nickname The Iron Man of India.

Turner International provided construction management services on the statue, guiding the project throughout construction to the inauguration on Oct. 31, which coincides with the 143rd anniversary of Sardar Patel’s birth. 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.”

Speaking to the sheer magnitude of the statue and Turner’s undertaking, Jairam said, “For the exterior of the statue, workers pieced together 553 macro bronze panels comprised of approximately 6,000 micro panels. The final bronze panel was installed on Oct. 11.” 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.”

The statue is designed to withstand winds reaching 180 kilometers (112 miles) per hour, as well as earthquakes measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale. It draws its strength from dual cylindrical concrete cores that rise up through the legs and torso of the figure, that are bolstered by 6,500 metric tons of structural steel and 18,500 metric tons of reinforcing steel bars. A tuned mass damper system provides additional stabilization.

Conceived as a naturalistic and historically accurate representation of Sardar Patel assuming a walking pose, the statue rises above a geometric star-shaped platform built on Sadhu Island in the Narmada River. Visitors to the Statue of Unity arrive at a riverside visitor center and then proceed across a footbridge to the statue’s base where an exhibition hall provides accounts of the life and accomplishments of Patel and the history of modern India. Draped over the roof of the exhibition hall is a contemplative memorial garden. Within the statue’s chest, a 200-person gallery provides visitors with a wonderful view of the surrounding countryside and the nearby Sardar Sarovar Dam.