The Press Information Bureau (PIB) Hyderabad organised a visit by ten journalists to the Statue of Unity and the surrounding Ekta Nagar development zone in Gujarat. The tour, conducted on 12 September 2026, aimed to showcase how the region combines tourism growth with environmental care and employment creation.
What is being developed at Ekta Nagar
Ekta Nagar spreads across 56 square kilometres and covers 90 villages in the Statue of Unity area. The site features multiple attractions including the Jungle Safari, Valley of Flowers, Arogya Van, Cactus Garden, Butterfly Garden and Ekta Mall, all built around the Statue of Unity monument dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
According to Shri Narayan Madhu, Additional Collector at the Statue of Unity Area Development and Tourism Governance Authority (SOUADTGA), tourism-focused development has created approximately 1,800 direct jobs and 7,000 indirect employment opportunities in the region. Local tribal communities, particularly women, participate in tourism activities including operating pink e-rickshaws, running food centres and managing restaurants.
The area emphasises sustainable practices through eco-friendly transport options such as electric buses, e-rickshaws and e-carts. Women from tribal communities receive training and support for self-employment through the Ekta Mahila Mandal organisation.
The delegation also visited the Sardar Sarovar Dam as part of their tour of the broader development zone.
What this means for you
The initiative demonstrates a model where large-scale tourism infrastructure can generate local employment while involving community members, especially tribal women, in economic activity. If you are seeking to understand how Government of India schemes balance tourism promotion with environmental sustainability and livelihood creation, Ekta Nagar presents a working example. The model may influence similar tourism development projects in other regions across India.