Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of several developmental projects worth ₹1,220 crore near the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar, located in Gujarat’s Narmada district.
According to a state government release, the Prime Minister landed at Vadodara airport in the evening as part of his two-day visit to Gujarat and travelled to Ekta Nagar by road due to bad weather conditions.
At the venue, PM Modi flagged off 25 new electric buses worth ₹30 crore. With this addition, a total of 55 e-buses will now operate free of cost for tourists in Ekta Nagar.
“These new 9-meter-long AC mini e-buses can travel up to 180 km on a single charge and are equipped with special features for differently-abled passengers, including a hydraulic lifting system for seat adjustment,” the release said.
The Prime Minister also e-inaugurated a series of projects, including:
- Government Quarters worth ₹56.33 crore
- Birsa Munda Bhavan costing ₹303 crore
- Hospitality District (Phase-1) developed at ₹54.65 crore
- Satpuda Protection Wall and Riverfront constructed for ₹20.72 crore
Other newly opened attractions include a Bonsai Garden, Walkway (Phase-2), e-Bus Charging Depot, Smart Bus Stop (Phase-2), and replica of the Sardar Sarovar Dam and Garden. These developments aim to enhance tourist infrastructure and visitor experience at Ekta Nagar.
In addition, PM Modi laid the foundation stone for ten major projects, including:
- Museum of Royal Kingdoms of India – ₹367.25 crore
- Veer Balak Udyan – ₹90.46 crore
- Travellator Extension at Statue of Unity – ₹27.43 crore
- Sports Complex – ₹23.60 crore
- Jetty Development – ₹12.50 crore
- CISF Barracks – ₹3.48 crore
- Jetty near Shoolpaneshwar Temple – ₹12.50 crore
- Rain Forest Project – ₹12.85 crore
The Prime Minister will also lead the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on Friday at Ekta Nagar.
This year’s Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations—held to mark the birth anniversary of the Iron Man of India—will feature a cultural festival and a National Unity Day parade showcasing the skills, discipline, and valour of India’s security forces, the release added.
