The Statue of Unity is a monument dedicated to Indian statesman and independence activist Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, located in the Narmada district of the western state of Gujarat in India. It is the world's tallest statue, with a height of 182 meters (597 feet), and was inaugurated on October 31, 2018, by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the occasion of Sardar Patel's 143rd birth anniversary. The idea for the statue was first proposed in 2010 by the then Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, who envisioned it as a symbol of national unity and tribute to Sardar Patel's contribution to India's independence movement. The statue was constructed at a cost of approximately 3,000 crore INR (around 400 million USD) and took almost five years to complete. The statue stands on a river island called Sadhu Bet, overlooking the Narmada Dam, and can be reached via a 5-kilometre-long bridge from the mainland. It is made of bronze and has a steel framework to withstand wind a
Indian Railways is the national railway system of India, owned and operated by the Government of India through the Ministry of Railways. It is the fourth largest railway network in the world, covering a total length of over 67,000 km and connecting more than 8,000 stations across the country. The railways in India have played a crucial role in the economic and social development of the country since its inception in 1853. The Indian railways have a rich history, which dates back to the early 19th century. The first railway line in India was laid between Bombay (now Mumbai) and Thane in 1853, and the network has since grown significantly, connecting various regions of the country. Today, the Indian railways carry more than 23 million passengers and over 3 million tonnes of freight daily, making it the lifeline of the country. The Indian Railways operates under the control of the Ministry of Railways, which is headed by the Union Minister of Railways. The railway network is divided into