Statue of Unity: Engineering Marvel or Stakeholders’ Saga?

The Statue of Unity (SOU) historic monument in Kevadia, Gujarat, India, was slated to become a beacon of unity among the people of India. In August 2018, the project director faced a major decision related to the management of diverse stakeholders’ priorities during the construction of the statue. The construction was a complex project that used innovative engineering solutions to address challenges such as wind velocity, seismic considerations, and the statue’s unique location. Managing the project required balancing the needs and expectations of several stakeholders, since it was a government project constructed by a private company and executed in partnership with other members of a consortium. Because the statue depicted a national leader, the aesthetics and appeal to citizens were as important as quality specifications such as those related to the structure’s ability to withstand the high wind speeds that were typical of the location. As the target completion date of October 31, 2018, approached, the project director had to decide whether to wait until he had received all the necessary approvals before opening or to go ahead with the government’s preferred date for the launch, which had been timed to coincide with the anniversary of the birth of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.