Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, visited the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, where the 72nd National Film Awards were held for the first time outside New Delhi. The minister paid floral tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and announced key updates on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor, including a target completion date for the first section.

Tribute to Sardar Patel and Statue of Unity Visit

Vaishnaw toured the viewing gallery of the world's tallest statue, taking in panoramic views of the Narmada River, the Satpura and Vindhyachal mountain ranges, and the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam. He was briefed on the management, facilities, and ongoing tourism projects in the Ekta Nagar area.

In his remarks recorded in the visitor's book, the minister wrote that India's present political form is the result of Patel's efforts, crediting his 'tireless efforts, far-sighted thinking and decisive policies' with helping overcome the challenges the country faced in 1947. 'Sardar Saheb gave us the dream of removing the distortions that had crept into our thousands of years-old civilisation and building a new prosperous and strong India,' Vaishnaw wrote, adding that the present generation bears responsibility for making India a developed country.

Statue of Unity Area Development and Tourism Regulatory Authority chairman and Narmada Nigam chairman and managing director Mukesh Puri presented the minister with a memento and photograph, and briefed him on tourism projects in the region. Statue of Unity CEO Amit Arora, deputy conservator of forests Prasad Ravi Radhakrishnan, and other officials were also present.

National Film Awards Taken Outside Delhi for the First Time

The visit coincided with a significant milestone: the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony was hosted at Ekta Nagar, marking the first time the prestigious event has been held outside New Delhi. Vaishnaw indicated that the government intends to rotate future ceremonies to prominent tourist destinations across the country, directly linking the National Film Awards with locations of tourism significance. He urged states to nominate destinations for upcoming editions of the ceremony.

Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train: December Target for First Section

On the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project, Vaishnaw said the first section — between Surat and Vapi — is targeted for completion by December 2026. He detailed the progress of the indigenously manufactured bullet train, stating that work on the car body, bogie, propulsion system, vehicle electronics, and wheels has advanced, while integration with the pantograph and overhead electrical system is also underway.

'The bullet train being manufactured and developed in India would subsequently be brought onto the tracks for extensive testing. The train's car body and bogie are ready, while the manufactured train is undergoing tests to assess the strength of its body,' the minister said.

Vaishnaw also confirmed that work on the undersea tunnel between Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) and Thane is progressing, with the required shafts and preparatory work for tunnel boring machines completed. Construction of stations and bridges along the corridor is also advancing.

Project Scale and Official Data

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor spans 508 km across Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, with 12 stations planned along the route. According to official data released earlier in 2026, substantial progress has been recorded on viaduct construction, girder placement, track-bed laying, and overhead electrification works. The December completion target for the Surat-Vapi section would mark a visible public milestone for a project that has been years in the making.