Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched ₹1,140 crore development projects in Gujarat, unveiling a commemorative coin and postage stamp to mark Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 150th birth anniversary at Ekta Nagar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated/launched a set of “flagship projects” in Gujarat as a part of the celebrations being held on the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Patel. This includes the unveiling of a ₹150 coin and a commemorative postage stamp on Patel’s birth anniversary and the laying of foundation stones/incremement stones for a series of projects estimated at more than ₹1,140 crore.
The Prime Minister began his day in Vadodara, and was received by state Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and other officials from the government. From there, he proceeded to Ekta Nagar, the venue of the national-level celebrations.
At the celebrations, the coin and the stamp – both issued in the memory of Sardar Patel – were released. These two, in particular, are intended to symbolise the nation’s unity.
In development activities, Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stones/increment stones and inaugurated projects worth more than ₹1,140 crore. These pertain to diverse sectors like transport, energy, and public welfare.
Prime Minister Modi’s two-day visit to Gujarat will see the inaugural parade on Friday for ‘Ekta Diwas’ (National Unity Day), which has been made an annual affair. This year, the parade is being held under the theme “Unity in Diversity”. It will be marked by tableaux from nine states showcasing their cultures, security forces, camel-mounted contingents, dog squads, and a cultural performance by 900 artistes.
For those tracking developments in Pune and Gujarat, this twin celebration of Patel’s birth anniversary and a package of development projects is not just about the continuation of the state’s ambitious drive to blend heritage and infrastructure modernisation. It is also about the government’s attempt to root patriotic imagery and celebrations in newly developing urban centres (Ekta Nagar is now Kevadia). As such, the key questions in the weeks and months to come are whether the numerous projects announced or inaugurated by the Prime Minister on this visit get completed in a time-bound manner and how much impact they would have made on the ground by then.
