The Statue of Unity crosses 5 million visitors

A state government official said on Monday that in a major milestone, the ‘Statue of Unity’ in Kevadia in Gujarat’s Narmada district has crossed the 50 lakh visitors mark.

Rajiv Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary (Forest and Environment) of Gujarat said in a tweet, this statue has emerged as an international tourist destination, which offers many attractions for all age groups.

The 182-meter tall statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, which was the world’s highest bid and erected on the Sadhu Bet Islet near the Sardar Sarovar Dam in Kevadia, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modin on October 31, 2018.

Since then, visitors from around the country and abroad have visited the tourist site and many other attractions that have been added there.

“#StatueofUnity surpassed five million visitors !!! Built under honorable @ @ visionary leadership. PMOIndiait has emerged as an international tourist destination, offering many attractions for all age groups. @Narendramodi @ Tourismgoi @ souindia, ”Mr. Gupta tweeted.

To improve rail and air connectivity to Kevadia, the government has recently added eight new trains from different parts of the country and seaplane service from Ahmedabad.

The influx of COVID-19 in 2020 affected the flow of tourists to the tourist site, but it reopened to the public on 17 October last year, as it remained closed for more than seven months.

During his address on 18 January this year, after flagging off eight trains across Kevadia from across India, Prime Minister Modi said that more tourists travel to the Statue of Unity in Gujarat than the Statue of Liberty.

He had said that with increased connectivity, according to a survey, more than one lakh people would visit Kevadia daily.

On Patel’s birth anniversary last year, PM Modi launched a seaplane service between the Statue of Unity and the Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad, improving connectivity for tourist attractions in Kevadia.