Noida-based sculptor Ram Sutar to build two mega statues of Sardar Patel & Shivaji

NEW DELHI:The proposed statues of Sardar Patel in the middle of Narmada river and of Shivaji in the Arabian Sea are touted to rival each other in their expected height and splendour. But the two statues may end up having more in common – Noida-based sculptor Ram Sutar, 89, who has emerged as the first choice for both mega projects.

Engineering firm L&T, which bid the lowest amount of Rs 2,980 crore against the official estimate of Rs 2,063 crore for PM Narendra Modi’s pet project of Patel’s statue, has named Sutar as its preferred sculptor, people familiar with the matter said.

Similarly, an Uttar Pradeshbased architecture firm, which is part of a consortium that is in the race for being entrusted with constructing Shivaji’s statue, has also turned to Sutar, who has several well-known works to his credit including the statues commissioned in recent years by Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati.

Officials at the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL), the implementing agency for the statue of Patel, confirmed that L&T had emerged as the lowest bidder in the bidding process that got over recently. The names of sculptors, designers and structure engineers, along with finer details of the statue that are expected to be ready in 42 months, will be released after other evaluations are cleared, officials said, adding that the contract would also include maintenance of the statue for the next 15 years.

While refusing to divulge details of the ongoing negotiations, an L&T spokesperson said, “As of now we just know that our bid was the lowest. We are waiting for the Letter of Intent.”

According to SSNNL officials, each bidder was asked to name its preferred sculptor and L&T had suggested Sutar as its first preference. L&T has executed a few such high-profile projects for the Gujarat government, including Swarnim Sankul-I that houses the chief minister’s office in Sardar Patel Secretariat.

Anil Sutar, Ram Sutar’s son and business partner said L&T had approached them when the process of submitting tenders was on, to finalise details of technical and structural aspects of the project.