State bhavans on Statue of Unity precinct on the anvil

SHILLONG: The Gujarat government is contemplating constructing state bhavans (buildings) of all states on the premises of the Statue of Unity, Minister Kishore Kanani said on Tuesday.
The Gujarat Health and Family Welfare minister told reporters here that bhavans of all the states will represent “unity of the nation as envisaged by the Iron Man of India”.
The Statue of Unity is 182 m high and is dedicated to Sardar Patel.
A delegation from Gujarat met Conrad Sangma on Monday. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has written a formal letter to Sangma on setting up Meghalaya bhavan on precinct of the Statue of Unity.
The delegation also met Governor Tathagata Roy to invite him for the unveiling of the statue.
The statue, deemed to be the highest in the world, will have a viewing gallery at the height of about 500 feet from which the picturesque background of the Sardar Sarovar Dam can be enjoyed. “There will be a research centre dedicated to the ideals of Sadar Vallabhhai Patel, which will conduct research on various issues which are close to the heart of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel such as tribal development, road development, public administration, a whole museum, light and sound show is being constructed at the statue,” he said.
He added that the whole idea “is to make a generation aware of the ideals of Sardar Patel and the socio-economic growth in the tribal dominated region of Narmada”.
“We are hoping a footfall of around 15,000 a day after the statue is being unveiled and after facilities are being created and which will start economic growth engine in the region,” Kanani said.