India unveils world's largest padlock

Amirchand have a tradition of building unique locks

A Calcutta locksmith has unveiled what it says is the largest hand-made padlock in the world.

The lock is intended to improve temple security

The 50kg-lock, which is two feet long and made of brass and aluminium, will protect an important Hindu temple at Puri in the eastern Indian state of Orissa.

The Jagannath temple, a major attraction for pilgrims, has had to tighten security against growing incidents of theft.

Temple authorities, who say thieves have been stealing gold and silver offerings left by devotees, will use the lock on a massive new 1.5-ton gate.

Amirchand Locksmiths, who made the giant padlock, has a tradition of building devices of record-breaking dimensions.

Craftsmanship

In 1961, the company built an 80 kg iron lock for Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru who reportedly had it made as a gift for the British queen.

Amirchand's 5-gramme silver lock

The company's proprietor, JP Singh, says his family had more than a century of experience in the business, which was why he was confident accepting the Puri temple order.

"We had to make a two-foot lock so that the security of the gate would be okay, and the lock would not break either," he said.

It took 18 workers 90 days to build the $710 lock, which comes with three large keys.

"This is a unique lock, the best lock in the world," said Amirchand's chief designer Virendra Singh.

But Amirchand has not just made big locks. The company's locksmiths have also produced a 5-gramme padlock that they say is the world's smallest.