WATCH | The biggest statue in the world

31 October 2018 - 09:36 By Reuben Goldberg
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A view of the under construction site of the "Statue of Unity" portraying Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the founding fathers of India, during a media tour in Kavadia, in the western state of Gujarat, India, October 18, 2018. Picture taken October 18, 2018.
A view of the under construction site of the "Statue of Unity" portraying Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the founding fathers of India, during a media tour in Kavadia, in the western state of Gujarat, India, October 18, 2018. Picture taken October 18, 2018.
Image: REUTERS/Amit Dave

The Statue of Unity, built on Sadhu Island, in the western state of Gujarat is a tribute to the man who united India, Sardar Patel.

The Telegraph reports at 240 metres, the statue will measure twice the height of the Statue of Liberty and nine times that of the Angel of the North. It will be more than 50 metres taller than China’s Spring Temple Buddha, the world’s current record holder, at 128 metres.

The Times of India reports construction materials used includes: 5,700,000 kg of structural steel; 18,500,000 kg of reinforced steel bars; 22,500,000 kg of cement; 1,700,000kg of bronze; 1,850,000 kg of bronze cladding and 5,000,000 kg of iron crowdsourced from Inidan farmers.

The Statue of Unity cost around $400 million to build.

The Guardian reports officials in Gujarat state are worried that community groups could stage protests during the opening ceremony on October 31 to demand compensation for land taken to erect the Statue of Unity.

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