Statue of Rama
Map
LocationAyodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India
TypeStatue
Height181 m (594 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$370 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$66 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.((cite web)): CS1 maint: others (link)
  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.
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