The Tamil Nadu government has announced plans to build a 125-foot statue of Chola king Raja Raja Chola at the Grand Chola Museum in Thanjavur. Public Works Department Minister E.V. Velu said the statue will be modelled after the existing Raja Raja statue near Sivaganga Park, set up by leader Kalaignar Karunanidhi. The Chief Minister is closely involved in the project. Velu also visited Gujarat to study the Statue of Unity, the 597-foot statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. He shared, "The base and foundation of the Gujarat Patel statue were made of steel, while the statue itself was made of copper plates. It was made in China and the project was executed by Larsen & Toubro (L&T). I am also holding talks with the same company to make the statue of Raja Raja Chola." The Grand Chola Museum is under construction on 52 acres at the Tamil University campus in Thanjavur, costing ₹56.41 crore. The museum will feature galleries on Chola heritage including architecture, governance, art, literature, economy, and military strength. It will also showcase recovered bronze idols of Raja Raja Chola and his wife Lokamadevi, retrieved by Tamil Nadu Police from Ahmedabad in 2018. Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu announced the museum during the 2023-24 Budget to honor Chola contributions and preserve their art and monuments. The Public Works Department is tasked with creating the statue, which will be the main attraction at the museum.