Gujarat's Ekta Nagar is set for a major tourism and infrastructure upgrade, with new attractions, improved visitor facilities and civic projects being added around the Statue of Unity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated 23 projects worth Rs 307.83 crore and laid the foundation stones for eight more projects costing Rs 118.88 crore. The combined value of the 31 projects stands at Rs 426.71 crore. The announcements coincided with the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, observed as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas.
Among the headline attractions are an IRCTC hotel built at a cost of Rs 50 crore, the Rs 16 crore Ekta Cruise, a Rain Forest attraction worth Rs 14.30 crore and an Eco Trail developed at a cost of Rs 3.67 crore. Alongside these tourism additions, the package includes roads, water treatment facilities, travelators, waste management infrastructure and other public amenities.
Here's a closer look at what has been inaugurated and what is planned for Ekta Nagar.
Rs 50 crore IRCTC hotel, Rs 16 crore Ekta Cruise and Rain Forest attraction
Some of the biggest additions are aimed at giving visitors more reasons to spend time in Ekta Nagar beyond visiting the Statue of Unity.
The IRCTC hotel, developed at a cost of Rs 50 crore, is among the major tourism projects inaugurated by the prime minister. The Ekta Cruise, costing Rs 16 crore, is another key attraction.
The Rain Forest attraction, developed at an investment of Rs 14.30 crore, and the Eco Trail, costing Rs 3.67 crore, add to the destination's nature and eco-tourism offerings.
These attractions are part of a wider plan to diversify the visitor experience around the Statue of Unity and strengthen Ekta Nagar's position as a major tourism destination.
Travelators, electric buses and new roads to improve visitor facilities
Improving the movement of tourists within the destination is another focus of the projects.
Travelators worth Rs 28.22 crore have been developed to make it easier for visitors to move between different locations. The inaugurated works also include two nine-metre-long air-conditioned electric buses.
A 24-metre colony road, developed at a cost of Rs 23 crore, and staff quarters worth Rs 14.25 crore are among the other completed infrastructure projects.
The package also covers the extension of the walkway connecting Ekta Nagar railway station to the Visitor Centre, development of roads near Gate No. 8 of the Statue of Unity and improvements to the Shoolpaneshwar Narmada Ghat.
Other additions include a terminal building and jetty near Mokhadi village, water stations at different locations, fountains, facade lighting within the Statue of Unity campus and the development of Ekta Prakash Parv.
The Unity Glow Garden is also being upgraded, while landscaping work using Geocell technology has been undertaken to improve greenery and the appearance of stone-pitched slopes near the new high-level Gora Bridge.
Rs 45 crore sewage treatment plant, water treatment facility and other civic projects
Beyond tourism, several projects are aimed at strengthening Ekta Nagar's basic infrastructure.
A sewage treatment plant costing Rs 45.53 crore and a water treatment plant worth Rs 21.40 crore are among the major infrastructure projects inaugurated.
A parade track and associated works, developed at a cost of Rs 23.81 crore, have also been completed.
The inaugurated package additionally includes CISF barracks and sculptures and architectural features at various locations.
Ekta Nagar's upcoming projects: Rs 59 crore Gora-Bhanadra Road and Cactus Garden
Apart from the completed works, eight projects worth Rs 118.88 crore have received foundation stones.
The Gora-Bhanadra Road is the biggest among these, with an estimated cost of Rs 59.32 crore. The Khalwani Bridge development, estimated at Rs 7.72 crore, is another important connectivity project.
The package also includes an integrated Cactus and Butterfly Garden project costing Rs 5.79 crore and the Khalwani Eco-Tourism development, estimated at Rs 5.15 crore.
One of the major proposed infrastructure additions is a Smart Zero Waste integrated solid waste management project, with an estimated investment of Rs 36.58 crore.
Other planned works include widening Vaghadia Road to improve access to the river rafting point and solid waste site, along with the construction of a disaster control room for the Sardar Sarovar Dam to strengthen emergency response and management.
Statue of Unity and Ekta Nagar: A major tourism destination in Gujarat
The projects are part of the Gujarat government's broader efforts to develop Ekta Nagar into a prominent tourism hub, with improved connectivity, accommodation, recreational attractions and essential infrastructure.
The Statue of Unity, dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, is the world's tallest statue and is located near the Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat's Narmada district.
Earlier on Saturday, 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.
The celebrations include the Ekta Parade, featuring contingents from Central Armed Police Forces, state police forces and central police organisations.
