Piyush Goyal: Statue of Unity in Guj to create "economic ecosystem" worth Rs 1 lakh crore

NEW DELHI: Piyush Goyal, Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry, Government of India told reporters that Sardar Patel's, Statue of Unity in Gujarat will create an "economic ecosystem around it worth at least Rs one lakh crore in the years to come."

Goyal was in Gujarat to examine the ongoing construction work of the Kevadiya-Vadodara railway line.

The Statue of Unity is a colossal statue of Indian statesman and independence activist Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The statue located near the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the river Narmada in Kevadiya colony in Gujarat is the world's tallest statue with a height of 182 metres.

The Statue of Unity has witnessed a 74 percent increase over the daily average of the first year, that is, November 1, 2018 to October 31, 2019, daily average of 15,036 is now registered in the first month of this second year. However, the footfall has further increased to 22,430 on weekend days.

Patel, also known as the 'Iron man of India' was the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of independent India and the chief adherent of Mahatma Gandhi during the non-violent Indian Independence movement.

The project for the tallest statue was first announced in 2010 and the construction of the statue started in October 2013 by Larsen & Toubro, who received the contract for Rs.500 crore from the Centre.

Designed by Indian sculptor Ram V. Sutar, and was inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the 143rd birth anniversary of Patel.

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