Located in Gujarat’s Kevadiya district, near the Sardar Sarovar Dam, the statue was announced by Narendra Modi in 2010. Commemorating Sardar Patel’s 138th birth anniversary, the foundation stone was laid at Kevadia. The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Rashtriya Ekta Trust took charge, collecting scrap iron from Indian farmers, amassing 135 metric tones by 2016.
The Man: Sardar Patel
Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel, endearingly termed the Iron Man of India, hailed from Gujarat’s Nadiad district. A pivotal figure in India’s freedom journey, he was an ally of Gandhi and was chosen as the Indian National Congress’s 49th president.
Structure & Construction
Standing tall at 240 meters, its unique height of 182 meters signifies the Gujarat Legislative Assembly seats. Constructed to endure high-speed winds and seismic activities, L&T won the construction bid. The project, costing Rs 2,989 crore in 2018, employed over 3,000 workers and utilized vast quantities of cement, steel, bronze, and other materials.
The statue’s magnificence necessitates meticulous maintenance, including cleaning, structural evaluations, lighting systems, and more.
Spearheaded by the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Rastriya Ekta Trust, the project aimed at promoting historical leaders and associated holistic development initiatives. Governed by the Gujarat Chief Minister and other state representatives, the Trust focuses on ecotourism, tribal upliftment, and more.
