Vadodara: The Statue of Unity (SoU) is expected to witness a massive inflow of tourists with eight important destinations across India being connected to the world’s tallest statue with railway on Sunday.
“Kevadiya has now become a global tourist destination and it is getting more visitors than the Statue of Liberty in the US. With more connectivity now, nearly one lakh people will visit Kevadiya in the coming days,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his address after virtually flagging off trains from eight cities to Kevadiya on Sunday.
Close to 50 lakh people have visited SoU after it was inaugurated by the PM in 2018.
Modi said nearly 200 rooms have been identified in the tribal villages in Kevadia to give the tourists an experience of homestay while bringing a transformation in the lives of the tribals.
"New avenues of jobs and self-employment will open up for the adivasis. The railway line will provide connection to religious places like Karnali, Poicha and Garudeshwar on the Narmada River," he added.
Kevadiya, which has been developed as India’s first green railway station, will also have a tribal art gallery and viewing gallery. Tourists will be able to view the SoU from this viewing gallery.
The eight connectivities include Dabhoi-Chandod-Kevadiya comprising of 50 km electrified section, rightwards arrow Pratapnagar-Kevadiya section 80 km of electrified section, rightwards arrow Vistadome coaches for scenic journeys, Chandod-Kevadiya new broad gauge rail line, right-pointing triangle Dabhoi-Chandod converted broad guage, right-pointing triangle Pratapnagar-Kevadiya electrified section and right-pointing triangle new station buildings of Dabhoi, Chandod and Kevadiya.
Without naming the previous Congress-led UPA government, Modi said, “The dedicated freight corridor (DFC) as an example of change in approach from earlier times. This project was under progress and between 2006-2014 work was done only on paper with not even a single km of track laid. Now, a total of 1,100 kms are about to be completed in the next few days.”
Stating that "aatmanirbharta" (self-reliance) in railway-related manufacturing and technology has yielding good results, PM called for the need for skilled and specialist manpower to for transformation of railways.