Ekta Nagar, October 31, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated 23 projects and laid foundation stones for eight others, together valued at ₹426.71 crore, in Gujarat’s Ekta Nagar as the government steps up efforts to develop the Statue of Unity region into a major tourism destination.
The programme was held on the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, observed as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas. The 23 inaugurated projects account for ₹307.83 crore, while the eight projects announced for development involve an estimated ₹118.88 crore.
Among the major tourism facilities inaugurated were an IRCTC hotel built at a cost of ₹50 crore, the ₹16-crore Ekta Cruise, a Rain Forest attraction costing ₹14.30 crore and an Eco Trail developed for ₹3.67 crore.
The infrastructure works include a sewage treatment plant worth ₹45.53 crore, a water treatment plant costing ₹21.40 crore, and a parade track and related facilities developed at ₹23.81 crore. Travelators worth ₹28.22 crore have also been installed to ease visitor movement. Other projects include a 24-metre colony road and staff quarters.
Additional facilities inaugurated include CISF barracks, a terminal building and jetty near Mokhadi village, water stations, an extended walkway linking Ekta Nagar railway station with the Visitor Centre, and fountains at various locations. The package also covers road improvements, beautification of Shoolpaneshwar Narmada Ghat, facade lighting, upgrades to Unity Glow Garden and two air-conditioned electric buses.
The eight projects receiving foundation stones include the ₹59.32-crore Gora-Bhanadra Road, development of Khalwani Bridge at ₹7.72 crore and an integrated Cactus and Butterfly Garden costing ₹5.79 crore.
A Smart Zero Waste integrated solid waste management project worth ₹36.58 crore and Khalwani Eco-Tourism development estimated at ₹5.15 crore are also planned. The remaining works include widening Vaghadia Road and building a disaster control room for the Sardar Sarovar Dam.
Earlier, Modi paid floral tributes to Patel at the Statue of Unity. He was also scheduled to visit the Rain Forest and Vaman Vriksha Vatika before attending the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations, including the Ekta Parade featuring central and state security forces.
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