<P> A consortium of Turner Construction (project manager of Burj Khalifa), Michael Graves and Associates and Meinhardt Group, is supervising the project . It will take 56 months to complete the project; 15 months for planning, 40 months for construction and two months for handing over by the consortium . The total cost of the project was estimated to be about ₹ 2,063 crore (US $320 million) by the government . The tender bids for the first phase were invited in October 2013 and were closed in November 2013 . </P> <P> The then Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi, (currently Prime Minister of India) laid the foundation stone of statue on 31 October 2013, the 138th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel . He along with L.K. Advani announced to the public that after completion of the project, it will be the tallest statue of the world . </P> <P> Indian infrastructure company Larsen & Toubro won the contract on 27 October 2014 for its lowest bid of ₹ 2,989 crore (US $460 million) for the design, construction and maintenance . They commenced the construction on 31 October 2014 and is expected to complete it by 2018 . In the first phase of ₹ 2,989 crore (US $460 million) project, Rs 1347 crore are for the main statue, Rs 235 crore for exhibition hall and convention centre, Rs 83 crore for the bridge connecting the memorial to the main land and Rs 657 crore for the maintenance of the structure for 15 years after its completion . Accenture provides digital media outreach programme . </P> <P> The monument is designed by Ram V. Sutar . </P>

When will the statue of unity be ready