Inside Gujarat's Rs 426 crore tourism makeover at Ekta Nagar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 23 tourism and infrastructure projects worth Rs 307.83 crore and laid foundation stones for eight additional projects costing Rs 118.88 crore on Saturday, bringing the total value of the 31 initiatives to Rs 426.71 crore. The ceremony coincided with the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, observed as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas.

Among the headline attractions are a Rs 50 crore IRCTC hotel, the Rs 16 crore Ekta Cruise, a Rs 14.30 crore Rain Forest attraction and a Rs 3.67 crore Eco Trail, all aimed at extending visitor stay beyond the Statue of Unity. Complementary upgrades include travelators worth Rs 28.22 crore, two nine‑metre‑long air‑conditioned electric buses, a 24‑metre colony road at Rs 23 crore, staff quarters costing Rs 14.25 crore, an extended walkway linking Ekta Nagar railway station to the Visitor Centre, and road improvements near Gate No. 8 and the Shoolpaneshwar Narmada Ghat.

Civic infrastructure enhancements feature a Rs 45.53 crore sewage‑treatment plant, a Rs 21.40 crore water‑treatment facility, and a parade track project valued at Rs 23.81 crore. Additional works include CISF barracks, new sculptures, an upgraded Unity Glow Garden, and Geocell‑based landscaping on stone‑pitched slopes near the high‑level Gora Bridge.

Future projects slated for foundation include the Rs 59.32 crore Gora‑Bhanadra Road, the Rs 7.72 crore Khalwani Bridge, an integrated Cactus and Butterfly Garden at Rs 5.79 crore, Khalwani Eco‑Tourism at Rs 5.15 crore, and a Smart Zero‑Waste solid‑waste management scheme costing Rs 36.58 crore. Plans also call for widening Vaghadia Road, constructing a disaster‑control room for the Sardar Sarovar Dam and other connectivity upgrades.

What to watch: the impact of the Rs 426 crore upgrade on visitor numbers.

Editor's note: The draft provides a thorough and accurate breakdown of the inaugurated and planned infrastructure projects, matching the source figures perfectly.