On Sardar Patel's 140th birth anniversary, here are 7 interesting facts about his iconic statue

The 140th birth anniversary of one of the founding fathers of Republic India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, (which falls on 31 October) is being celebrated as 'Rashtriya Ekta Diwas' or National Unity Day.

An iconic 182-metre long statue of Patel, dubbed the 'Statue of Unity,' is being built at the Sadhu-Bet Island in the Narmada district of Gujarat to commemorate his contributions to the nation as a politician and a leader.

Here are some interesting facts about the Statue of Unity:

1. The total height of the 'Statue of Unity' is 182 metres or 597.11 feet. It will be double the height of the Statue of Liberty in the USA and five times taller than the Statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
2. The total cost of the project is estimated to be Rs. 2989 crore and will be completed in four years. The statue will have a rich bronze coat.
3. The statue will include a museum and audio-visual department depicting the life and times of Sardar Vallabhbai Patel.
4. A laser and light show will also be featured.
5. A research centre has been planned close to the statue where subjects such as water management and tribal development will also be studied and researched. Good governance an agriculture development will also be studied.
6. The observation deck, situated at a height of around 500 ft from river bed, will accommodate up to 200 people at a time. It will provide visitors a panoramic view, enabling them to see the beautiful Satpura and Vindhyachal mountain ranges, the 212 km long Sardar Sarovar Reservoir, and the 12 km long Garudeshwar Reservoir.
7. Boats will be used to reach the statue and the surrounding area in order to avoid vehicular traffic and pollution.