The Government of Gujarat is set to accelerate and streamline the development of accommodation and tourism infrastructure for domestic and international visitors to the Statue of Unity (SOU), the world’s tallest statue dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, located at Ekta Nagar.
In a comprehensive review chaired by Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel during the 6th Governing Body meeting of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Rashtriya Ekta Trust (SVPRET) in Gandhinagar, key strategies were discussed to enhance the overall visitor experience and position SOU as a leading global tourism destination.
The SVPRET is an autonomous body established under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, and the Bombay Public Trusts Act, 1950. Its primary mission is to honour the legacy of Sardar Patel through the development of a national memorial and the implementation of public welfare initiatives.
To oversee this mission, a 10-member Governing Body has been formed under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister. Members include the Chief Secretary, Chairman and Managing Director of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam, and senior secretaries from various key departments, including Finance, Urban Development, Forest and Environment, and Roads and Buildings.
During the meeting, Chief Executive Officer of the Statue of Unity Area Development and Tourism Authority, Shri Amit Arora, presented updates on ongoing tourism projects and proposed new initiatives to enhance the SOU campus. These include the creation of a trekking trail on the surrounding hills, a scenic walkway, the development of a dedicated hospitality district, and the construction of a replica of the Sardar Sarovar Dam near the main entrance.
The Governing Body also discussed establishing a robust internal capacity development system to support the long-term operation and maintenance of the Statue of Unity and its surrounding infrastructure.
The meeting was attended by key officials including Chief Secretary Shri Pankaj Joshi, Chairman of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Shri Mukesh Puri, Principal Secretary of Finance Shri T. Nataraj, Principal Secretary of Urban Development Shri M. Thennarasan, Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Smt. Avantika Singh, and Secretary of Roads and Buildings Shri Prabhat Pateliya.
, the world’s tallest statue dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, located at Ekta Nagar.){kind=link}