Otis India will be the vertical transport solutions provider for the 182-metre Statue of Unity, named the world’s tallest statue. The statue is built in the likeness of independence activist and the first Deputy Prime Minister of India,
The massive structure is located in Gujarat on the river island Sadhu Bet. It’s foundation was laid in 2013 by Indian Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat,. The statue was erected using iron collected by 500,000 Indian farmers who donated their farming tools, hence its namesake, ‘The Statue of Unity’. Its height of 182 metres was chosen specifically to correlate the number of seats in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, and can be seen from a 7 km radius.
The project was first announced in 2010, with construction beginning in October 2014 under multi-national giant Larsen & Toubro, who successfully bid with its USD 420 million contract. Designed by famed sculptor Ram V. Sutar, the statue was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 31 October 2018, the 143rd anniversary of Patel’s birth.
Two high speed elevators will carry visitors to the top most floor which is the observation deck. The pedestal of the statue houses a memorial area, which is served by four Gen2® elevators. Otis also has a Gen2 elevator outside the statue with access to the ticket counter. The remaining three Gen2 elevators will be installed at a future hotel near the statue.
Otis had the privilege of carrying the honorable Prime Minister of India, Shri. Narendra Modi, in the high speed SkyRise® elevator to the viewer’s gallery, 134 meters (440 feet) above the ground, during the inaugural ceremony. Ram Yadav, Project Engineer who rode in the elevator with the Prime Minister, said, “As we took the elevators up, he asked about the speed of the elevator and the travel time. Before he exited, he gave me a warm thank you. This is not only the biggest highlight of my career, but of my life as well.”
About Otis
Otis is the world’s leading manufacturer and maintainer of people-moving products, including elevators, escalators and moving walkways. Founded more than 160 years ago by the inventor of the safety elevator, Otis offers products and services through its companies in approximately 200 countries and territories. Otis is a unit of United Technologies Corp., a leading provider to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide. By combining a passion for science with precision engineering, the company is creating smart, sustainable solutions the world needs. For more information, visit www.otis.com, or follow Otis on LinkedIn, YouTube and as @OtisElevatorCo on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
