Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled 31 tourism projects worth Rs 426 crore in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, on May 28, 2026, marking Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary. The launch saw the opening of a new IRCTC hotel costing Rs 50 crore, the Ekta Cruise for Rs 16 crore, a rainforest built for Rs 14.30 crore, and an eco‑trail at Rs 3.67 crore.
The inauguration also covered critical infrastructure: a sewage treatment plant at Rs 45.53 crore, a water treatment plant for Rs 21.40 crore, a travelator costing Rs 28.22 crore, and a Rs 23 crore colony road to ease traffic. Two nine‑metre electric buses were rolled out, and a CISF barrack, terminal building, and a jetty near Mokhdi village were opened.
Foundation stones were laid for projects totalling Rs 118.88 crore, including the Rs 59.32 crore Gora Bhandra Road, a Rs 7.72 crore Khalwani Bridge, a Rs 5.79 crore cactus‑butterfly garden, and a Rs 36.58 crore solid‑waste facility. A disaster control room is planned for the Sardar Sarovar Dam, and the Vaghadia Road will be widened to improve river‑rafting access.
"This investment will turn Ekta Nagar into a world‑class tourism hub," Modi said to a crowd of 5,000 tourists and local dignitaries. The Prime Minister added that the projects will create jobs and boost the local economy.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel noted that the upgrades are part of a broader strategy to position the Statue of Unity as a global destination. Construction is slated to start in July, with completion aimed for 2028. The state expects the new facilities to draw 1.5 million visitors each year.
A local shopkeeper, Ramesh Patel, shared that the influx of tourists will help his family sell traditional handicrafts. He said, "The new hotel and cruise will bring more people to our village, and we can finally sell our work beyond the state."