Statue of Unity inauguration LIVE: All eyes on India as the world's tallest statue, honouring Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, is dedicated by PM Narendra Modi

Update at 12:10 PM: Prime Minister Modi visits Sardar Patel Museum after  inauguration ceremony of Statue of Unity

Update at 11:29 AM: PM Modi concludes his dress at inauguration ceremony of Statue of Unity

Update at 11:20 AM: Sardar Patel wanted India to be strong, sensitive, alert and inclusive. All our efforts are in direction of fulfilling this dream: PM Modi

Update at 11:08 AM: 'Statue of Unity is symbol of our engineering and techlogical capabilities. Workers, craftsmen have worked on mission mode every day for nearly three and a half years': PM Modi

Update at 10:50 AM: Sardar Patel ensured that India is t broken into pieces: PM Modi dresses inauguration ceremony of Statue of Unity

Update at 10:45 AM: Today will be remembered as an important day in India's history. From earth to skies, Sardar Patel is being celebrated today When I h conceived of this as Chief Minister of Gujarat, I hn't imagined that I would, as Prime Minister, have hour of inaugurating it: Prime Minister Modi

Update at 10:40 AM:  whole country is celebrating National Unity Day, in memory of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: PM Modi dresses inauguration ceremony of tallest statue in world

Update at 10:36 AM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi dresses inauguration ceremony of tallest statue in world - India's tribute to 'Iron Man' Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Update at 10:35 AM: Visuals from inauguration ceremony of 'Statue of Unity'

Update at 10:30 AM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates 'Statue of Unity' and pays tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Update at 10:25 AM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is at inauguration ceremony of 'Statue of Unity

Update at 10:15 AM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is being felicitated with flower bouquet at  venue of 'Statue of Unity'

Update at 9:30 AM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with staff at 'Tent City'

Update at 9:20 AM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates 'Tent City' in Kevia, Gujarat ahe of unveiling of 'Statue of Unity'

Update at 9:15 AM: Here are some of statues that 'Statue of Unity' dedicated to Sardar Patel will supercede in terms of height:

Update at 9:08 AM: Glimpses of ‘Statue of Unity’ that will be dedicated to nation shortly by PM Modi

(Source: Twitter)

(Source: Twitter)

(Source: Twitter)

Update at 9:05 AM: Post our freedom movement, Sardar Patel worked hard to get more than 550 princely states toger to make India one. It's only right that we remember him today: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman flags of Run For Unity in Tamil Nu's Chennai.

Update at 9:00 AM: PM Modi visits Tent City (accommodation facility)

Update at 8:50 AM: Cultural events are going on at Valley of Flowers ahe of unveiling of iconic 'Statue of Unity'

Update at 8:45 AM: Prime Minister Modi inaugurates Valley of Flowers

Update at 8:35 AM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Valley of Flowers ahe of unveiling of 'Statue of Unity'

Update at 8:30 AM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Kevia, Gujarat to unveil 'Statue of Unity'

Update at 8:08: Sardar Patel unified country and led youngsters of country. Sardar Patel was an icon of country: Union Minister Ravi Shankar Pras

Update at 7:41 AM: Union Ministers Prakash Javdekar, Harsh Vardhan, as well as sportspersons Mary Kom, Dipa Karmakar and ors are present at event where Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Rajnath Singh flagged off 'Run for Unity'

Update at 7:36 AM: Home Minister Rajnath Singh flags off 'Run for Unity' in Delhi on day when Sardar Patel statue will be inaugurated.

Update at 8:33 PM: Laser light show at 'Statue of Unity'

Update at 8:29 PM: Republic TV has accessed Prime Minister's full schedule planned to mark unveiling of Statue of Unity: 

• 9:00 am: Arrival at Kevia
• 9:10 am: Visit to Valley of flowers 
• 9:50 am: Visit to Tent city (accommodation facility) 
• 10:15 am: Arrival at venue of program for cultural events 
• 10:20 am: Visit to  'Wall of Unity' (topmost area of statue) 
• 11:35 am:  Official inauguration of statue 
• 11:45 am: Visit to museum and exhibition 
• 12:15: Conclusion

Gazing down at  Sardar Sarovar Dam and located on a Narma river island called Shu Bet, Statue of Unity, a colossal monument dedicated to India’s first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, October 31. day marks 143rd birth anniversary of Sardar Patel, Ironman of India, whose contribution towards assimilating over a hundred princely states, towns, regions, kingdoms and or such into union of newly established Republic of India is impossible to overstate. monument's name is thus fitting, and so is its status as world's tallest statue.

Here are some facts about 'Statue of Unity':

• At a total height of 240m (including its base), it is world's tallest statue. To put things into perspective, its height would rank it among India's tallest buildings, at around 60-floor mark
• It will have a viewing gallery at 153 meters that will accommodate up to 200 visitors at one go. gallery will offer an expansive view of dam and its environs
• statue will be able to withstand wind velocities up to 60m/second, as well as vibrations and tremors from Earthquake measuring 6.5 on Richter scale
• statue comprises two semi-joined, composite concrete cylindrical cores, surrounded by a structural steel frame to support exterior clding
• One will be able to see Sardar Sarovar Dam and its 200 Km long reservoir, as well as Satpura and Vindhya mountain ranges from viewing gallery, official website states 
• engineering marvel is me up of 180,000 cubic meters of concrete, 18,500 tonnes of reinforced steel, 6,500 tonnes of structured steel and 1,850 tonnes of bronze clding
• A 3.5 km highway has been built to connect Statue in Shu Island to Kevia town in Gujarat
• Iron collected from 'Loha' campaign was melted, converted to rebar and used in foundation of statue
• As per official website, after its completion,  statue will generate approximately 15,000 direct jobs for tribal people
• Shrestha Bharat Bhavan jacent to statue is designed to be a 128-room, 3-star hotel facility with food services, guest amenities and conference facilities 

" Statue will stand high, t just in meters and feet, but much more in terms of acemic, historical, national and spiritual values. My vision is to develop place as a source of inspiration for s to come", res a mess by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on official website of  'Statue of Unity'. 

Narendra Modi h laid foundation stone for project on October 31, 2013, when he was still Chief Minister of Gujarat. Its work order was given to engineering and construction major L&T on December 3, 2014, and it was scheduled to be completed within 42 months.