Statue of Rama

Statue of Rama
Map
LocationAyodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India
DesignerRam V. Sutar
TypeStatue
Width181 m (594 ft)
Height251 m (823 ft)
Dedicated toRama

The Statue of Rama is a planned monument in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India dedicated to the Hindu god Rama.[1][2] The statue will be 181 m (594 ft) in breadth and 251 m (823 ft) tall including plinth and umbrella. The cost of the statue is estimated to be 2,500 crore (equivalent to 29 billion or US$350 million in 2023).[3]

Plan

The Yogi Adityanath government had announced in 2017 that it would construct a Rama statue in Ayodhya as part of the “Navya Ayodhya” scheme of the UP Tourism Department to develop the area into a tourist center.[4] On 24 November 2018, the design of the statue was finalised.[5] On 2 March 2019, the Uttar Pradesh cabinet cleared 200 crore for the "detailed project report" as well as for 28.28 hectares identified for the project.[6] Technical support from the Gujarat government, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute and IIT Kanpur has been sought.[7][8]

In November 2019, 447 crore (equivalent to 526 crore or US$63 million in 2023) was allocated to acquire 61 hectares of land in Mirpur, Ayodhya, for the statue, museum, library, food court and other tourist amenities.[9] However due to land uncertainties, the location has not been finalized and may be shifted to Manja Barhata village in Ayodhya.[10]

The statue of Rama would be accompanied by one of Nishadaraja Kevata, a boatman who helped Rama, Sita and Laxman cross the Ganga when in exile. Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, had in September said 34 crore would be allocated for the project of Nishadraj.[4]

In August 2019, Member of Parliament Karan Singh had asked the government of Uttar Pradesh to build both a statue for Rama as well as his consort Sita.[11] Karan Singh had also made the same request in December 2018.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Coming soon: UP government reveals details of Ram statue in Ayodhya", India Today, 25 November 2018
  2. ^ Safi, Michael (26 November 2018). "India, home of the world's tallest statue, announces plan to build a taller one". the Guardian. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  3. ^ "Ayodhya's Ram statue will be tallest in the world; cost Rs2,500 crore". Condé Nast Traveller India. 24 July 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  4. ^ a b Rashid, Omar (25 November 2018). "U.P. to build 251-metre Ram statue on the banks of Saryu". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  5. ^ "Yogi Adityanath clears 251-meter tall Ram statue in Ayodhya". The Indian Express. 25 November 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  6. ^ Seth, Maulshree (3 March 2019). "Ram statue project: UP government clears Rs 200 crore for preparations". The Indian Express. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  7. ^ "Ram statue in Ayodhya: UP govt to seek technical support from Gujarat". The Week. PTI. 3 March 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  8. ^ Swati, Bhasin (23 July 2019). "Yogi Adityanath's Planned Lord Ram Statue, At 251 Metres, World's Tallest". NDTV. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  9. ^ Sharma, Aman (2 November 2019). "Yogi Adityanath allots Rs 447 cr to buy land for Lord Ram statue, centre". The Economic Times. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  10. ^ "Proposed Ram statue may get new location in Ayodhya". Hindustan Times. 28 December 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  11. ^ Madhukalya, Amrita (23 August 2019). "Why not a statue for Sitaji too, Karan Singh asks Yogi Adityanath". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  12. ^ "'Build twin statues of Rama and Sita in Ayodhya': Congress' Karan Singh to Yogi". The Indian Express. 23 August 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2019.