Rashtriya Ekta Diwas 2026: Modi Opens ₹426 Crore Projects at Ekta Nagar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid floral tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, on Saturday morning, his 151st birth anniversary, observed as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas. He then inaugurated and laid foundation stones for projects worth about ₹426 crore in the Statue of Unity area, according to reports of the day’s schedule. The main Ekta Diwas parade is listed for around 5:30 PM, the Prime Minister’s Office said in its programme note.

₹426 Crore of Works Around the Statue

Reports put the figure at 23 projects costing ₹307.83 crore inaugurated and eight more, worth ₹118.88 crore, taken up with foundation stones. They include sewage and water treatment facilities, facade lighting, Narmada Ghat upgrades, an IRCTC hotel and tourism works such as the Rain Forest, Unity Trail and Eco Trail. Modi was also scheduled to visit the Rain Forest and Vaman Vriksha Vatika after the ceremony.

A Parade Built Around the End of Armed Naxalism

The evening parade will have contingents from the Central Armed Police Forces and state police, with special mention of forces that fought Left-Wing Extremism. ANI reported about 10,000 police and paramilitary personnel and nearly 4,700 artists. The National School of Drama will stage a piece with about 2,000 artists from 126 districts once affected by Naxalism, and about 5,000 people from those districts have been invited. The theme is “Vande Mataram”, marking 150 years of the national song.

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The Gujarat visit began on 30 October with projects in Banaskantha and the release of the PM-Kisan instalment; IPB covered that in PM-Kisan 24th Instalment: ₹18,680 Crore for 9.34 Crore Farmers. On the security side, see the Home Secretary’s remarks to an IPS batch.

Evening Ceremony Is Still to Come

The parade and cultural events were yet to begin at the time of writing, so what the Prime Minister says in his address is not yet known. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also paid tribute to Patel on the day.

Source: Prime Minister’s Office programme note. Also based on reporting by ANI, Dainik Jagran and Organiser.

Image: Wikimedia Commons.