PM Modi to inaugurate ₹426 crore projects at Statue of Unity on Patel's 151st birth anniversary
Synopsis
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas 2026 is more than a tribute — it is a ₹426.71 crore infrastructure push. Modi's visit to Ekta Nagar on Sardar Patel's 151st birth anniversary includes inaugurating 23 projects, from an IRCTC hotel to a Rain Forest, alongside a 2,000-artiste theatrical on 'Naxal Mukt Bharat'. The Statue of Unity complex is quietly becoming one of India's most aggressively developed national tourism hubs.
Key Takeaways
PM Modi will pay floral tributes at the Statue of Unity on 31 October 2026 at around 9 am , marking Sardar Patel's 151st birth anniversary .
31 tourism and infrastructure projects worth a combined ₹426.71 crore are being inaugurated or launched at Ekta Nagar .
Inaugurations include an IRCTC hotel (₹50 crore) , Ekta Cruise (₹16 crore) , and a Rain Forest attraction (₹14.30 crore) .
A theatrical presentation on 'Naxal Mukt Bharat' by the National School of Drama will feature around 2,000 artistes from 126 Left-Wing Extremism-affected districts .
Cultural performances on the theme 'Vande Mataram' will involve around 5,000 artistes from across India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay floral tributes at the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, on 31 October 2026 at around 9 am, marking Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's 151st birth anniversary. The occasion also serves as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, and Modi is set to inaugurate and lay foundation stones for 31 tourism and infrastructure projects in the Statue of Unity area, with a combined outlay of ₹426.71 crore.
Key Projects Being Inaugurated
Of the 31 projects, 23 worth ₹307.83 crore are to be inaugurated, while foundation stones will be laid for eight projects worth ₹118.88 crore. The headline inaugurations include an IRCTC hotel built at a cost of ₹50 crore, an Ekta Cruise costing ₹16 crore, a Rain Forest attraction worth ₹14.30 crore, and an Eco Trail costing ₹3.67 crore.
The broader package encompasses sewage and water treatment plants, travelators, a parade track, staff quarters, road improvements, facade lighting at the Statue of Unity campus, and the development of Ekta Prakash Parv.
Ekta Prakash Parv and Cultural Displays
On Friday evening, Modi visited the Ekta Prakash Parv-2026 at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat's Narmada district, viewing illuminated displays depicting the cultural traditions of the country's four geographic regions. The indoor section of the illumination festival is divided into four zones representing North, East, West and South India.
This comes amid a broader government effort to build Ekta Nagar into a premier national tourism destination, with each successive Rashtriya Ekta Diwas adding new attractions. Saturday's ₹426.71 crore outlay is among the largest single-day infrastructure additions to the site since the Statue of Unity was unveiled in 2018.
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas Celebrations
Modi will also visit the Rain Forest and Vaman Vriksha Vatika before participating in the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas programme at around 5:30 pm. The programme will feature an Ekta Parade by Central Armed Police Forces, state police forces, and central police organisations.
A theatrical presentation titled 'Naxal Mukt Bharat' by the National School of Drama will involve around 2,000 artistes from 126 districts affected by Left-Wing Extremism — a deliberate symbolic framing connecting national integration with anti-extremism efforts. Tableaux and cultural performances on the theme 'Vande Mataram' will see around 5,000 artistes from across India take part.
What This Signals
The scale of Saturday's events underlines the Centre's continued investment in the Statue of Unity as both a national symbol and an economic anchor for tribal and rural Gujarat. Notably, Rashtriya Ekta Diwas has grown from a solemn tribute into one of the government's flagship showcase events, combining infrastructure rollouts with large-scale cultural programming. The forward-looking trajectory suggests further development phases for the Ekta Nagar complex are likely in the coming years.
Point of View
And this year's edition is the most ambitious yet. The ₹426.71 crore project package signals that the Centre sees Ekta Nagar not just as a pilgrimage to Patel's legacy but as a viable tourism economy in tribal Gujarat — a politically and economically significant combination. The inclusion of a 'Naxal Mukt Bharat' theatrical involving 126 LWE-affected districts is a deliberate narrative move, yoking national integration symbolism to internal security messaging. What deserves scrutiny is whether the tourism infrastructure being built translates into sustained local employment and revenue — or whether visitor numbers plateau after the inauguration cycle, as has happened at other state-backed tourism megaprojects.
NationPress
31 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rashtriya Ekta Diwas and why is it observed on 31 October?
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, or National Unity Day, is observed on 31 October every year to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, who is credited with integrating over 500 princely states into the Indian Union. The day was officially instituted by the Centre in 2014.
What projects is PM Modi inaugurating at Ekta Nagar on 31 October 2026?
Modi is inaugurating 23 projects worth ₹307.83 crore and laying foundation stones for 8 projects worth ₹118.88 crore, totalling ₹426.71 crore. Key inaugurations include an IRCTC hotel (₹50 crore), Ekta Cruise (₹16 crore), a Rain Forest attraction (₹14.30 crore), and an Eco Trail (₹3.67 crore), alongside utility and infrastructure upgrades.
What is the 'Naxal Mukt Bharat' programme at Rashtriya Ekta Diwas 2026?
It is a theatrical presentation by the National School of Drama featuring around 2,000 artistes drawn from 126 districts affected by Left-Wing Extremism. The performance symbolically links national integration with the government's efforts to reduce Naxal influence across affected states.
How big is the Statue of Unity and where is it located?
The Statue of Unity, standing at 182 metres, is the world's tallest statue and is located at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat's Narmada district. It was inaugurated by PM Modi in October 2018 and depicts Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
What cultural events are planned for Rashtriya Ekta Diwas 2026?
The celebrations include an Ekta Parade by Central Armed Police Forces and state police, the 'Naxal Mukt Bharat' theatrical by the National School of Drama with 2,000 artistes, and tableaux and cultural performances themed 'Vande Mataram' with around 5,000 artistes from across India.
