Lucknow: A 221-metre bronze statue of Lord Ram will be installed by the Uttar Pradesh government in Ayodhya, the principal secretary (information) Avanish Awasthi has said.

Awasthi confirmed that the actual height of the statue would be 151 metres. However, with its overhead umbrella at 20 metres and the pedestal at 50 metres, the total height will be 221 metres.

A museum would be housed at the pedestal, Awasthi said.

Five firms shortlisted for construction of the statue gave presentations before Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday evening, the officer said, adding soil testing is being done for installing the statue.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had on October 31, inaugurated an imposing 182-metre statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the country's first home minister, in Gujarat.

(With inputs from PTI)