Ahead of chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s visit to Ayodhya on November 6, the state government has initiated steps to select the architect and the design consultant for the ‘world’s tallest statue’ of Lord Ram, which will be installed on the bank of the River Saryu in the temple town, an official said.

“The tender for selecting the architect and design consultant was floated and the shortlisted firms gave a presentation before the chief minister. Some changes were suggested and a fresh presentation will be made for the final selection,” said a senior official of the Uttar Pradesh Rajkiya Nirman Nigam (UPRNN), who did not wish to be named. He said once the architect was finalised, the construction agency will be selected in the next step.

The official said the statue will be 151-metre-tall and the pedestal below it will be 50 metre high, making the entire structure 201 metre in height.

“This statue will be the tallest among idols of deities in India,” said Prof Pandeya Rajivanayan of the department of fine arts at the Dr Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University, Lucknow.

He said idols of deities were usually not more than 50 metres in height. 

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