Kevadiya: PM Narendra Modi today compared the popularity of Statue of Unity, the 182 meters tall icon of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel set up near Kevadiya town in Narmada district of his home-state Gujarat as world’s tallest sculptor with New York based iconic Statue of Liberty which was once the tallest across the globe for years.

Addressing an event to mark the filling up of Sardar Sarovar dam on river Narmada here, PM Modi, who had earlier taken an aerial view of the Statue of Unity in a chopper and also shared a video on his tweeter, said, ‘ due to the Statue of Unity, Gujarat and Kevadiya have made a big mark on the world’s tourism map and gained immense popularity. Even as the Statue has not yet completed even an year of its dedication to the nation, it is only 11 months old yet 23 lakh tourists have visited it so far. On an average every day 8500 tourists were visiting it. On the last Janmashtmi day a record 34000 tourists had visited it in a day.’

He said, ” How big an achievement is it that every day on an average 10 thousand tourists visit the Statue of Liberty which is now 133 years old while 8500 visit the Statue of Unity which has not yet completed even an year. It is in itself a unique achievement.’

Modi said that he could not see all the related tourist spots being developed around the statue of unity even after spending four hours. On completion these would make the tourists stay here for two to three days to see all these and this in turn would bring many more opportunities for the local tribal people.

He also appealed the people to save this area from the menace of single use plastic pollution.

Notably, PM Modi himself had dedicated the Statue of Unity on October 31 last year. It had left Springfield Buddha of China (153 m) behind to become the tallest statue across the world. 93 meter tall Statue of Liberty in New York which has now slipped to fourth place in this regard had for years the distinction of being the tallest sculptor in the world.

DeshGujarat