Pro-Inspector’s Role in Building the Statue of Unity: A Digital QMS Success Story

The Statue of Unity, rising to a remarkable height of 182 meters, is a powerful tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of India’s foremost independence leaders. Located near Kevadia in Gujarat, it holds the title of the tallest statue in the world, surpassing the Statue of Liberty and the Spring Temple Buddha.

More than just a national symbol, the Statue of Unity showcases India’s engineering brilliance. From its complex design to challenging environmental conditions, the project required advanced construction methods and precise quality control. Larsen & Toubro (L&T), the company behind the construction, adopted Pro-Inspector to manage inspections, ensure safety, and maintain the highest standards throughout the project.

In this case study, we explore the key engineering challenges and how Pro-Inspector played a critical role in delivering one of the world’s most ambitious structures — on time, with accuracy, and at global quality benchmarks.

The vision for the Statue of Unity was conceived in 2010, aiming to honor Sardar Patel’s contributions to India’s independence and unification. The statue’s design was entrusted to renowned Indian sculptor Ram Vanji Sutar, with the construction undertaken by Larsen & Toubro (L&T), a leading Indian engineering and construction firm. The project commenced in October 2013, with a budget of ₹27 billion (US$422 million). Despite the challenges posed by its scale, location, and environmental factors, the Statue of Unity was completed in a record time and inaugurated on October 31, 2018, marking the 143rd birth anniversary of Sardar Patel.

Engineering Challenges

The construction of the Statue of Unity presented several engineering challenges due to its height, location, and design:

1. Wind and Earthquake Resistance: Situated in the middle of the Narmada River, the statue is exposed to high wind speeds, creating a tunnel effect that could potentially destabilize the structure. Extensive studies of wind patterns revealed that the statue could experience wind speeds of up to 39 m/s (130 km/h). To counter this, the statue was engineered to withstand wind speeds up to 50 m/s (180 km/h). Additionally, to ensure stability against seismic activity, the structure was designed to survive earthquakes measuring up to 6.5 on the Richter scale.
2. Structural Design and Stability: The statue’s walking pose, with one leg slightly forward, added complexity to the structural design. The slender base and a 6.4-meter gap between the feet required innovative solutions to manage the wind velocity and maintain the statue’s stability. Two Tuned Mass Dampers, each weighing 250 tonnes, were installed to minimize any sway in the structure, ensuring that all four corners of the base raft remained firmly rooted to the ground.
3. Material Selection and Construction: The project required 210,000 cubic meters of cement concrete, 18,500 tonnes of reinforced steel, 6,500 tonnes of structural steel, and 1,850 tonnes of bronze cladding made up of 565 macro and 6,000 micro panels. These materials were carefully selected for their durability and ability to withstand environmental factors. The statue’s face, a critical aspect of the design, was meticulously crafted to capture Sardar Patel’s likeness, emitting a sense of power and warmth.
4. Participative Design Process: The design of the statue’s face involved a participative exercise, where thousands of people provided feedback on a mock-up, ensuring that the final features were as close as possible to the real Sardar Patel.

Role of Pro-Inspector in Quality Assurance