Banaskantha, Oct 2026 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Gujarat on Friday to launch and lay the foundation stones for development projects worth more than Rs 14,400 crore in Banaskantha district. The visit will also mark the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, with a series of programmes planned at Ekta Nagar to commemorate the occasion.
During his visit, the Prime Minister will release around Rs 19,000 crore as the 24th instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme, providing financial assistance to farmers across the country.
In Banaskantha, Modi will dedicate the Bharat Bovine Breeding and Research Centre (BBBRC) at Bhildi to the nation. Spread across 127 acres, the facility aims to strengthen bovine breeding, genetic improvement and the adoption of advanced reproductive technologies.
He will also lay the foundation stones for two Bio-CNG plants being established by Banas Dairy at Tharad and Radhanpur. The plants will have the capacity to process 75 metric tonnes and 100 metric tonnes of cattle dung per day, respectively. The projects are expected to support the utilisation of cattle waste for clean energy production.
Among the major infrastructure initiatives, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for extending Ahmedabad Metro Phase-2 to the airport and GIFT City. The proposed extension is expected to improve connectivity to key transport and business destinations.
In the social infrastructure sector, Modi will lay the foundation stones for 4,030 new child-friendly Anganwadi centres and inaugurate 361 completed centres across Gujarat. The initiative involves an investment of Rs 800 crore and is expected to benefit more than four lakh people.
He will also dedicate 521 projects completed under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund to the nation. In a move to strengthen rail connectivity, the Prime Minister will flag off the Ahmedabad (Sabarmati)-Varanasi Express and the Mehsana-Becharaji-Sabarmati MEMU service.
The visit will also mark the commencement of on-ground activities under 12 approved horticulture clusters covering approximately 1.46 lakh hectares. These clusters are expected to benefit more than 1.3 lakh farmers. Two of the clusters in North Gujarat will focus on potato cultivation.
The release of the 24th PM-KISAN instalment, amounting to around Rs 19,000 crore, will provide direct financial support to eligible farmers across the country.
Following the programmes in Banaskantha, Modi will travel to Ekta Nagar to inaugurate 'Bharat Parv 2026'. He will also witness 'Ekta Prakash Parv', a festival of illumination showcasing India's cultural diversity and national unity, followed by the Narmada Aarti.
The illumination displays will feature more than 1.5 crore LED lights, with artworks created by artists from different parts of the country.
On October 31, the Prime Minister will pay floral tributes at the Statue of Unity before inaugurating and laying the foundation stones for projects worth more than Rs 400 crore in Ekta Nagar.
The projects include a sewage and water treatment plant, facade lighting, upgradation of Narmada Ghat, an IRCTC hotel, and the Rainforest, Unity and Eco Trail. He will also lay the foundation stones for the development of Gora-Bhandra Road, an integrated zero-waste smart solid waste management system, Khalwani eco-tourism facilities, and the integrated development of the Cactus and Butterfly Garden.
The 151st birth anniversary celebrations of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel will feature a parade involving the Central Armed Police Forces, state police forces and central police organisations.
This year's parade will particularly highlight the achievements of security forces in tackling Left-Wing Extremism and the transformation of previously affected areas towards peace, security and development.
A theatrical presentation titled 'Naxal Mukt Bharat', organised by the National School of Drama, will involve around 2,000 artists from 126 districts affected by Left-Wing Extremism.
The overarching theme of this year's 'Rashtriya Ekta Diwas' celebrations will be 'Vande Mataram', reflecting the focus on national unity and India's shared cultural heritage.
