Budget 2014: Rs 200 crore allocated for Sardar Patel’s Statue of Unity

NEW DELHI: The budget sets aside Rs200 crore for Modi’s dream project — the Statue of Unity — his tribute to Sardar Patel, that according to him, will stand tall and force the world to look at India.

In October 2013, Modi had announced the construction of 182-metre tall statue of Sardar Patel at Sadhu Bet, an island located 3 km from Sardar Sarovar dam and launched a trust headed by himself to look after the project. To be built under a PPP model, it is estimated to cost Rs 2,063 crore. It will be completed in three phases in four years and twice as tall as the iconic Statue of Liberty.

In December last, Modi had flagged off about 1,000 trucks carrying thousands of empty kits for soil, and had urged farmers in all states to donate iron equipment to make the statue. But later considering the quality of the iron material collected, it was decided to not use them for the main statue.