Posted on 10/31/2018 5:49:01 PM PDT by Simon Green
The prime minister of India today unveiled the world’s largest statue, dedicated to Sardar Patel, a nationalist who helped unite modern India after its independence from Britain.
"We are doing everything possible to turn Sardar Patel's vision into a reality and ensure a good-quality life for our fellow Indians," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.
The monument, called the Statue of Unity, stands at nearly 600 feet and cost a staggering $460 million to build.
That makes the mega statue almost 200 feet higher than the world’s next largest, the Spring Temple Buddha in China, which stands at about 420 feet. The new statue in India is also nearly twice the height of the Statue of Liberty, which is 305 feet tall.
The Statue of Unity, located in the western state of Gujarat, is expected to attract tens of thousands of tourists per day. The project has proved controversial, however.
Farmers in the state of Gujarat were reportedly bemused that millions of dollars were spent on the flagship project. The BBC reported that locals have expressed deep concern that they still lack basic irrigation facilities vital to the region’s economy while mass investment has been diverted to a largely-ceremonial project.
But completion of the towering monument ends a critical debate over which political party has the best claim to the legacy of one of Indian history’s most revered figures.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
$33,300,000 Our foreign aid to India.
We just paid for part of that.
Well. No wonder I like it.
To me it says "Family", and so I like it too.
I found some viewable shots here, neat idea, although in some places in the US the whole thing would vanish in weeks as street bums dismantled it case by case for the refunds and/or to build a "house" somewhere by the river.
and we send foreign aid to India of $33,300,000!!!
Looks like they don’t need our help after all!
I like it. He’s chill, which is cool in case he ever comes to life. He won’t destroy Tokyo or anything, he’ll just put the stars on Christmas trees.
Because we send $33,300,000 foreign ‘aid to India’ ad not to build statues.
I agree; not a very heroic pose at all.
That’s a disgusting statement.....get out of the gutter!
“The Statue of Unity..” Is this a joke? Photoshop? No way something so lame would be built.
"The colossal statue is vibration and earthquake proof and can withstand wind velocity of up to 60 metres/second." 
It will have a viewing gallery at 153 m or 500 feet, which can accommodate up to 200 visitors at a go, and will offer an expansive view of the beautiful Satpura and Vindhyachal mountain ranges, the 212 km long Sardar Sarovar Reservoir, and the 12 km long Garudeshwar Reservoir. For the comfort of the visitors against high wind forces, a 400-ton Tuned Mass Damper system has been provided above the observation deck.
Get off the thread and clean up your act
How far would that money have gone to actually help the people of India? What a waste.
I understand the Sardar Patel statue has already obtained an H1B Visa as a software engineer with a PhD.
With only a few minor adjustments...
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen and television fans all over, uh, the living room floor. Tonight’s drama is called “The Manacles” and features a pair of these attractive and useful charm bracelets...
Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
I’ve heard the first 500 visitors each day get a free Slurpee.
“It will have a viewing gallery at 153 m”
The visitors will be peeking out from his zipper?
Or behind?
The view out the rear may be a bit constricted?
Someday America will build a taller one for President Trump.
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