Ekta Nagar, Oct 2026 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay floral tributes at the Statue of Unity in Gujarat on Saturday at around 9 a.m., marking the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
During his visit, the Prime Minister is scheduled to inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for 31 tourism and infrastructure projects in the Statue of Unity area, with a combined investment of ₹426.71 crore.
Of these, 23 projects worth ₹307.83 crore will be inaugurated, while foundation stones will be laid for eight projects costing ₹118.88 crore.
The projects to be inaugurated include an Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) hotel built at a cost of ₹50 crore, the ₹16-crore Ekta Cruise, a Rain Forest attraction worth ₹14.30 crore and an Eco Trail costing ₹3.67 crore.
The project package also includes sewage and water treatment plants, travelators, a parade track, staff quarters, road improvements, facade lighting at the Statue of Unity campus and the development of Ekta Prakash Parv.
Earlier on Friday, Modi visited Ekta Prakash Parv-2026 at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat’s Narmada district, a day ahead of the birth anniversary celebrations. The Prime Minister viewed illuminated displays showcasing the cultural traditions of India’s four regions.
The indoor section of the illumination festival has been divided into four zones representing North, East, West and South India.
On Saturday, Modi will also visit the Rain Forest and Vaman Vriksha Vatika before participating in the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations at around 5:30 p.m.
The programme will feature the Ekta Parade, with participation from Central Armed Police Forces, state police forces and central police organisations.
A theatrical presentation on ‘Naxal Mukt Bharat’, organised by the National School of Drama, will involve around 2,000 artistes from 126 districts affected by Left-Wing Extremism.
Tableaux and cultural performances will be presented on the theme ‘Vande Mataram’, with around 5,000 artistes from across the country participating in the larger cultural programme.
The celebrations at Ekta Nagar will commemorate Sardar Patel’s contribution to national integration and bring together cultural performances, ceremonial events and the inauguration of tourism and infrastructure projects in the Statue of Unity area.
