{
  "id": 17366760,
  "title": "PM Modi inaugurates tourism, infrastructure projects worth ₹307 crore in Gujarat's Ekta Nagar",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/pm-modi-inaugurates-tourism-infrastructure-projects-worth-307-crore",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-31T08:13:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/gujarat/pm-modi-inaugurates-tourism-infrastructure-projects-in-gujarats-ekta-nagar/article71648518.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 23 development projects worth ₹307.83 crore in Gujarat's Ekta Nagar on Saturday, October 31, 2026, to enhance tourism and civic infrastructure. In addition, he laid the foundation stones for eight more projects worth ₹118.88 crore, bringing the total cost of all 31 projects to ₹426.71 crore.\n\nThe newly launched projects are aimed at upgrading visitor facilities and civic infrastructure around the world's tallest statue, the Statue of Unity, which has become a major tourism hub. Among the major attractions inaugurated by the Prime Minister are an IRCTC hotel, the Ekta Cruise, a Rain Forest attraction, and an Eco-Trail, with costs ranging from ₹3.67 crore to ₹50 crore.\n\nInfrastructure-wise, the Prime Minister inaugurated a sewage treatment plant, a water treatment plant, and a parade track. Enhancements in connectivity and convenience include travelators, a 24-metre colony road, staff quarters, and two nine-metre-long air-conditioned electric buses. Other new facilities comprise a terminal building, a jetty near Mokhadi village, water stations, an extension of the walkway connecting the railway station to the Visitor Centre, and fountains at various sites.\n\nMr. Modi also launched new visual features, such as facade lighting within the Statue of Unity campus, the Ekta Prakash Parv heritage display, and an upgraded Unity Glow Garden. He laid the foundation stones for eight upcoming projects, including the Gora-Bhanadra Road, a Smart Zero Waste integrated solid waste management facility, the Khalwani Bridge, a cactus and butterfly garden, and widening of Vaghadia Road. Additionally, a disaster control room for the Sardar Sarovar Dam is being constructed.",
  "summary": "The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stones for eight development projects worth ₹118.88 crore, taking the total outlay for the 31 projects to ₹426.71 crore",
  "key_points": [
    "PM Modi inaugurates 23 development projects worth ₹307.83 crore in Gujarat's Ekta Nagar.",
    "Inaugurated projects enhance tourism and civic infrastructure around Statue of Unity.",
    "Laid foundation stones for eight more projects totaling ₹118.88 crore."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Expanding the facilities around the Statue of Unity signals a strategic effort to transform the region into a more sophisticated and sustainable destination for global travelers.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "NDTV",
        "title": "Hotel, Cruise: PM Modi's Rs 426 Crore Tourism Boost For Statue Of Unity In Gujarat",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/hotel-cruise-pm-modis-rs-426-crore-tourism-boost-for-statue-of-unity",
        "published": "2026-10-31T08:59:14.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}