India has unveiled the world’s tallest statue, which cost at about 29.9bn rupees to build. The Statue is nearly twice as tall as New York’s Statue of Liberty
The statue was in honor of one of its Independence leader, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, with a height of 182m (600ft) making it the tallest statue in the world, and was designed by Indian sculptor Ram V Sutar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the “statue of unity” would serve as a major tourist attraction.
However, some locals said that it was a waste of public money and that the funds could have been put to better use. Mr. Modi, who unveiled the statue at a grand inaugural event, said it is “a symbol of India’s integrity and resolve.”
The memorial has been seen as a pet project of Mr. Modi, who like Patel, was born in Gujarat. He commissioned the statue when he was the state’s chief minister in 2010.