The Rath
Biju Patnaik Park, Bhubaneswar
- Year2019
- Height20 ft
- GradeYST 355
Drawn from the photograph: the members trace themselves, then the night shot soaks in.
The specification
- Project Owner
- Tata Steel Ltd
- Location
- Bhubaneswar (Odisha)
- Architect
- Nuru Karim
- Structural Designer
- Tata Growth Shop
- Material Used
- Tata Structura Circular Hollow Sections (YST 355)
- Sections used
- SHS 150×6, SHS 113.5×5.4, SHS 91.5×5.4, CHS 60.3×4.5, CHS 48.3×5
- Height of the structure
- 20 ft
- Fabrication, Erection & Lighting
- Sagar Business
The “Rath” Monument
A fusion of Odisha’s solar heritage and contemporary steel engineering, standing as a permanent landmark in the heart of Bhubaneswar.
01. Inspiration
From Charkha to Rath
Following the global appreciation of the 11-meter Charkha monument in Mumbai, Mr. Kulvin Suri (Chief of Sales & Marketing, Tata Tubes) envisioned a similar landmark for Odisha. The goal was to showcase the state's rich culture using the strength of Tata Structura.
This ambition was realized through a strategic partnership with Sagar Business, translating a cultural dream into an architectural reality inaugurated on 13 August 2019.
02. Engineering
Conceptual Evolution
The geometry is a tribute to the Sun Temple wheel. Using concentric polygons, the structure creates a visual illusion of a perfect circle. While the original design featured a reducing radius, it was pivoted to a reversed and linked orientation to ensure maximum public safety.
Engineering Resilience: The Challenges
Public Safety
The construction took place in a bustling public park, requiring high-security barricading and strategic work pauses during peak footfall hours.
Monsoon Fabrications
Working through the Odisha rainy season, the team managed steel fabrication despite waterlogging and high risks of soil collapse.
Manual Precision
In the absence of utility mapping, all excavation was performed manually to protect underground cables—avoiding heavy machinery entirely.
Urban Route
Transporting large-scale fabricated steel components through tight city corridors required meticulous urban routing and logistical timing.
Tri-Axis Geometry
Arranged on a 120-degree tri-axis, the structure represents the 8-hour subdivisions of the 24-hour cycle—a monument to the concept of time.
Social Infrastructure
The monument serves the community directly; its underbelly houses a public amphitheatre for events, accessible to all walks of life.
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