Vadodara: The 184-meter statue of freedom fighter Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, called the 'Statue of Unity', is nearing completion, and it would be the world's tallest statue. The statue was supposed to be introduced to the public on October 31 on the event of the 143rd birth commemoration of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel memorial in Narmada district.

JN Singh, the Gujarat Chief Secretary, and other officials on Sunday (October 7) visited the site for evaluating its progress. Around 3,500 labourers and 250 architects are working at the place to get the statue up, which is touted as the world’s tallest, all set to be inaugurated on October 31.

"We visited the site to take stock of the project and ensure its timely completion. It will be ready for inauguration on October 31. It will emerge as a world-class tourist destination," said JN Singh to the media.

The project was set into movement five years ago when Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. He had laid the foundation stone in October, 2013. The statue is meant to be a tribute to the man, who was instrumental in the making of a united India.

The statue is being built at an expected expense of Rs 3,000 crore under public-private partnership by construction firm Larsen and Toubro and the state-run Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL).