Gujarat CMO Launches Ekta Cruise on Narmada River
Synopsis
Gujarat's Chief Minister's Office has announced the 'Ekta Cruise', a ₹16-crore, 600-passenger modern river vessel on the Narmada at Ekta Nagar, offering visitors scenic rides alongside the Statue of Unity as the state deepens its tourism infrastructure at the iconic site.
Key Takeaways
The Ekta Cruise is a newly built river vessel launched at Ekta Nagar on the Narmada River in Gujarat.
The vessel cost ₹16 crore and has a capacity of 600 passengers .
It features modern safety systems, comfortable seating, and onboard dining facilities.
The cruise operates in the vicinity of the Statue of Unity , the world's tallest statue inaugurated in October 2018 .
The announcement was made by the Chief Minister's Office of Gujarat and attributed to the vision of PM Narendra Modi .
The project extends Ekta Nagar's growing portfolio of tourism experiences beyond the monument itself.
A new chapter in Gujarat's tourism story set sail on the Narmada River on Sunday, 25 October 2026, as the Chief Minister's Office of Gujarat unveiled the 'Ekta Cruise' — a modern river vessel built at a cost of ₹16 crore to ferry visitors past the iconic Statue of Unity at Ekta Nagar.
The Gujarati-language post from the CMO reads: 'વિકાસની નવી ઊંચાઈ, પ્રવાસનની નવી ઓળખ અને આનંદની નવી સહેલ..!' — 'A new height of development, a new identity for tourism, and a new journey of joy!' The post describes the Ekta Cruise as a gift to visitors arriving at Ekta Nagar under the 'visionary leadership' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, promising an unforgettable experience on the waves of the Narmada.
What the Ekta Cruise brings to Narmada's banks
According to the CMO's announcement, the newly built vessel accommodates up to 600 passengers at a time. It comes equipped with modern safety systems, comfortable seating, and onboard dining — positioning it as a full-experience attraction rather than a simple ferry crossing. The cruise runs in the shadow of the Statue of Unity, the world's tallest statue standing at 182 metres, which was inaugurated on 31 October 2018 to honour Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Ekta Nagar, the township built specifically around the statue, has grown steadily into one of Gujarat's flagship tourism destinations since 2018. A river cruise adds a new dimension to that offer — moving visitors off the observation decks and onto the water itself, with the statue's silhouette rising above the Narmada's banks as their backdrop.
River tourism as Gujarat's next infrastructure push
The Ekta Cruise fits neatly into a broader national pattern: successive governments have layered experience infrastructure around iconic monuments to extend visitor dwell-time and drive local economic activity. River-based tourism, specifically, has gained traction as a tool for developing inland waterways while diversifying what a destination can offer beyond static sightseeing.
Gujarat has been an aggressive mover on this front. Since the Statue of Unity's opening, Ekta Nagar has added a tent city, a butterfly garden, jungle safaris, and a valley of flowers — each addition designed to convert a day-trip into a multi-day stay. The Ekta Cruise, the costliest single addition in recent memory at ₹16 crore, signals the state's intent to keep upgrading the experience economy around the site.
The CMO's post specifically tags @souindia — the Statue of Unity's official handle — underscoring that the cruise is conceived as an integrated part of the monument's tourism ecosystem, not a standalone project.
Whether the new vessel translates into measurable growth in Ekta Nagar's annual footfall figures will become the real test — and those numbers, when they arrive, will tell the fuller story of what ₹16 crore on the Narmada is worth.
Point of View
Layered strategy by Gujarat to transform the Statue of Unity from a single landmark into a multi-day tourism economy. By investing ₹16 crore in river infrastructure, the state is signalling that the monument's real value lies not in the statue alone but in the ecosystem of experiences built around it. This mirrors the central government's broader push to develop inland waterway tourism as both an economic driver and a soft-power showcase. The political framing — crediting PM Modi's 'visionary leadership' — keeps Ekta Nagar firmly tethered to the BJP's national narrative of development-as-legacy, ahead of what are likely to be competitive electoral cycles in Gujarat.
NationPress
25 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ekta Cruise in Gujarat?
The Ekta Cruise is a newly launched, modern river vessel operating on the Narmada River at Ekta Nagar , near the Statue of Unity in Gujarat. It was built at a cost of ₹16 crore and can carry up to 600 passengers , offering scenic rides with the Statue of Unity as a backdrop.
How much did the Ekta Cruise cost to build?
According to the Chief Minister's Office of Gujarat, the Ekta Cruise was built at a cost of ₹16 crore .
Where does the Ekta Cruise operate?
The Ekta Cruise operates on the Narmada River at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat, the township built around the Statue of Unity.
What facilities does the Ekta Cruise offer?
The vessel features a 600-passenger capacity , modern safety systems, comfortable seating, and onboard food and dining arrangements.
When was the Statue of Unity inaugurated?
The Statue of Unity , the world's tallest statue honouring Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, was inaugurated on 31 October 2018 at Ekta Nagar, Gujarat.
