Statues have never been this popular in India as they have become now. Thanks to political parties that invest hugely in statues that promote either their ideology, a particular religion and political leaders.
Nevertheless, the pace of building statues, especially during the NDA administration, has been a quickie and also a topic of criticism as building these statues cost so much money.
And to give you a glimpse of exactly how much money we are talking about, here is a list of the statues that have been built in the past few years in India and how much they cost.
1. Statue of Unity, Rs 2,989 crore
Surely first and the most controversial is the list is the Statue of Unity built on a budget of Rs 2,989 Crores. Standing on the banks of River Narmada, the 182 meters tallest statue in the world was built in honour of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and his efforts to integrate India into a union.
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2. Shivaji Memorial Statue, Rs 3,600 crore
More expensive than the Statue of Unity would be Shivaji Memorial Statue being built in Maharastra. The Rs 3,600 crore statue is being built in the Arabian Sea, around 1.5 km from Mumbai shoreline opposite Marine Drive. The statue will entertain a height of 212 metre to become the tallest statue in the world.
3. Lord Ram Statue, Rs 2,500 Crore
Besides Ram Temple in Ayodhya, a huge statue of Lord Ram has also been planned for erection. The statue will be 251 meters tall including plinth and umbrella. Though it would cost Rs 2,500 crore, the amount is likely to be arranged via donation just like in the case of the Ram Temple budget.
4. Hanuman Statue, Rs 1,200 crore
Recently it was proposed that a 215-meter tall Lord Hanuman statue will be erected in Karnataka’s Pampapur Kishkindha. An amount of Rs 1,200 crore has been kept aside for the project. Once built, the statue will be the tallest Hanuman statue in the world
5. Statue of Equality – Rs 1,000 crore
This one, being built in Maharastra’s Mumbai, would be a dedication to a renowned lawyer and the father of the Indian Constitution, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. The statue, being planned to be the world’s third tallest, will be 137.3-metre (450 ft) in height, including a 30.5-metre (100 ft) pedestal.
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6. Swami Vivekananda Statue at JNU, cost not revealed
Recently, PM Modi unveiled a life-size statue of Swami Vivekananda on the JNU campus. However, the cost of building the statue and the source of funding has been not revealed by the government. Despite several RTIs being filed by the members of JNU, the cost was not revealed and the university was given replies like, “no JNU funds are being used”.
7. Statue Of Peace, cost not revealed
Statue of Peace was recently unveiled by PM Modi on the 151st birth anniversary of Jain monk Acharya Shree Vijay Vallabh Surishwer Ji Maharaj. The 151-inch tall statue has been made from Ashtadhatu – 8 metals, with Copper being the major constituent, and is being installed at Vijay Vallabh Sadhana Kendra, Jetpura, in Pali, Rajasthan.
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