Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, 31 October 2026, inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 31 tourism and infrastructure projects worth a combined ₹426.71 crore at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat's Narmada district, marking the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, observed nationally as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas. The push is part of the state government's concerted drive to transform the Statue of Unity precinct into a world-class tourism hub.

Projects Inaugurated

Of the 31 projects, 23 worth ₹307.83 crore were formally inaugurated on Saturday. The marquee additions include an IRCTC hotel built at a cost of ₹50 crore, the Ekta Cruise costing ₹16 crore, a Rain Forest attraction worth ₹14.30 crore, and an Eco Trail developed at ₹3.67 crore. Travelators costing ₹28.22 crore have also been commissioned to ease visitor movement around the statue complex.

Infrastructure additions include a sewage treatment plant at ₹45.53 crore, a water treatment plant worth ₹21.40 crore, and a parade track and associated works costing ₹23.81 crore. A 24-metre colony road at ₹23 crore and staff quarters worth ₹14.25 crore were also part of the inaugurated package.

Additional works commissioned include CISF barracks, a terminal building and jetty near Mokhadi village, water stations at multiple locations, an extended walkway linking Ekta Nagar railway station to the Visitor Centre, facade lighting within the Statue of Unity campus, upgradation of the Unity Glow Garden, development of Ekta Prakash Parv, two nine-metre-long air-conditioned electric buses, and landscaping using Geocell technology on the slopes of the new high-level Gora Bridge.

Foundation Stones Laid

The remaining eight projects worth ₹118.88 crore received foundation stone layings. The largest among them is the Gora-Bhanadra Road, estimated at ₹59.32 crore, followed by a Smart Zero Waste integrated solid waste management project at ₹36.58 crore. Other projects include the Khalwani Bridge at ₹7.72 crore, an integrated Cactus and Butterfly Garden at ₹5.79 crore, and Khalwani Eco-Tourism development at ₹5.15 crore. Widening of Vaghadia Road to improve access to the river rafting point and construction of a disaster control room for the Sardar Sarovar Dam are also included to strengthen emergency management capabilities.

Rashtriya Ekta Diwas Celebrations

The inauguration coincided with Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, observed every year on 31 October to mark Sardar Patel's birth anniversary. Modi paid floral tributes to Sardar Patel at the Statue of Unity earlier in the day. He was also scheduled to visit the Rain Forest and Vaman Vriksha Vatika before attending the Ekta Parade, which features Central Armed Police Forces, state police forces, and central police organisations.

Statue of Unity: Growing Tourism Footprint

The Statue of Unity — the world's tallest statue at 182 metres, dedicated to Sardar Patel and located near the Sardar Sarovar Dam — has emerged as one of India's fastest-growing tourist destinations since its inauguration in 2018. Saturday's project slate signals a deliberate escalation of amenities to sustain and increase visitor volumes, spanning hospitality, eco-tourism, water-based experiences, and last-mile connectivity. With international-standard infrastructure now supplementing the statue itself, the region is being positioned to compete with established heritage tourism circuits in Gujarat and beyond.

All projects fall under the state government's framework to develop Ekta Nagar as a self-sustaining tourism township. Further phases of development are expected as visitor data and footfall targets are reviewed.