Vadodara: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Ektanagar in Narmada district on Oct 31 to attend Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations marking Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 151st birth anniversary and inaugurate new tourism projects, including a Rs 16-crore cruise vessel on the Narmada and a Rs 12-crore rainforest project featuring a glass skywalk.Preparations are under way for the two-day event on Oct 30 and 31. More than 8,000 artists from across the country will stage a 12-minute cultural programme based on the theme “Vande Mataram” at Ektanagar. The presentation will highlight India’s cultural diversity and national unity, with over 3,000 participants from Gujarat joining artists from other states.The 600-passenger Ekta Cruise is expected to strengthen river tourism around the Statue of Unity. The vessel will operate on the Narmada and is among the key attractions slated for inauguration during the celebrations.Another major project is the rainforest being developed on 12 acres near the New Gora Bridge and Coconut Tree Garden, about 5km from the Statue of Unity.Built at a cost of Rs 12 crore, the attraction will recreate a year-round rainy environment through artificial rainfall, a waterfall, bubble fountains and landscaped areas with trees sourced from different parts of India.The project will use 20 rain-gun towers to generate artificial rain, while temperatures within the facility will be maintained between 25°C and 30°C. Visitors will be able to experience rain-like settings even during the summer.The centrepiece of the rainforest is a circular glass walkway comprising 132 panels of 35mm-thick glass. The structure has a diameter of 22m and rises 11m above the ground. The curved toughened laminated glass was imported from Germany and cut and shaped in Ahmedabad before being transported to the site. Special cranes are being used to install the panels.
