The Statue of Rama is a planned monument in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India dedicated to the Hindu god Rama.[1][2] The statue will be 181 m (594 ft) in breadth and 251 m (823 ft) tall including plinth and umbrella. The cost of the statue is estimated to be ₹2,500 crore (equivalent to ₹29 billion or US$350 million in 2023).[3]
 | |
| Location | Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India |
|---|---|
| Type | Statue |
| Height | 181 m (594 ft) |
| Dedicated to | Rama |
Plan
The Yogi Adityanath government had announced in 2017 that it would construct a Rama statue in Ayodhya as part of the “Navya Ayodhya” scheme of the UP Tourism Department to develop the area into a tourist center.[4] On 24 November 2018, the design of the statue was finalised.[5] On 2 March 2019, the Uttar Pradesh cabinet cleared ₹ 200 crore for the "detailed project report" as well as for 28.28 hectares identified for the project.[6] Technical support from the Gujarat government, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute and IIT Kanpur has been sought.[7][8]
In November 2019, ₹447 crore (equivalent to ₹526 crore or US$63 million in 2023) was allocated to acquire 61 hectares of land in Mirpur, Ayodhya, for the statue, museum, library, food court and other tourist amenities.[9] However due to land uncertainties, the location has not been finalized and may be shifted to Manja Barhata village in Ayodhya.[10]
The statue of Rama would be accompanied by one of Nishadaraja Kevata, a boatman who helped Rama, Sita and Laxman cross the Ganga when in exile. Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, had in September said ₹ 34 crore would be allocated for the project of Nishadraj.[4]
In August 2019, Member of Parliament Karan Singh had asked the government of Uttar Pradesh to build both a statue for Rama as well as his consort Sita.[11] Karan Singh had also made the same request in December 2018.[12]