Gujarat’s cities are playing an increasingly important role in driving economic growth, industrial development and quality of life. Through integrated planning, modern infrastructure, sustainable mobility and digital governance, the Urban Development & Urban Housing Department is strengthening urban centres across the State. Shri M. Thennarasan, IAS, Principal Secretary, Urban Development & Urban Housing Department, Government of Gujarat, in an exclusive interaction with Hemangini Kant Rajput and Elma Fatima of Elets News Network (ENN), discusses the initiatives shaping investment-ready, sustainable and citizen-centric cities.
Q1. Gujarat’s urban transformation has been a key enabler of its economic and industrial success. How is the Urban Development & Urban Housing Department shaping cities that are globally competitive, sustainable and investment-ready?
Gujarat is among India’s most urbanised states and is expected to record an urbanisation level of over 50 per cent in the upcoming Census. Recognising cities as engines of economic growth, industrial competitiveness and improved quality of life, the State has adopted an integrated approach to urban development based on planned expansion, modern infrastructure and efficient governance.
The Urban Development & Urban Housing Department has strengthened urban planning through Development Plans covering all urban areas and Town Planning Schemes (TPS) for planned land development. With more than 900 Town Planning Schemes implemented, Gujarat has established a strong framework for orderly urban expansion, efficient land management and infrastructure-led development.
Reflecting this commitment, the State’s urban development budget has increased nearly 45-fold, from ₹660 crore in FY 2005–06 to ₹33,504 crore in FY 2026–27. Investments are being made across water supply, sewerage, stormwater drainage, public transport, affordable housing, digital governance and climate-resilient infrastructure. Projects such as GIFT City, DREAM City, the Sabarmati Riverfront, Metro Rail and BRTS demonstrate Gujarat’s emphasis on creating investment-ready urban centres.
Sustainability remains an important component of this approach. Through clean energy adoption, climate action planning, green mobility, urban forestry and circular economy initiatives, Gujarat is promoting environmentally responsible and resilient cities.
Further strengthening these efforts, the Government of Gujarat has declared 2025 as the ‘Urban Development Year’, providing renewed focus on strategic investments, institutional capacity, climate resilience and citizen-centric governance. The initiative aims to accelerate the development of cities that can support future economic growth while contributing to the vision of Viksit Gujarat and Viksit Bharat 2047.
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Q2. With rapid urbanisation across the State, what are the Department’s key priorities in strengthening urban infrastructure, mobility, affordable housing and public services to enhance the quality of life for citizens?
Rapid urbanisation presents significant opportunities as well as challenges. Our priority is to ensure that urban growth is planned, inclusive and supported by infrastructure that improves the quality of life while meeting future requirements.
The Department is focused on strengthening urban infrastructure through universal water supply, scientific wastewater management, efficient stormwater drainage, solid waste management and climate-resilient urban systems. These efforts are being supported through flagship programmes such as AMRUT 2.0, Swachh Bharat Mission, PMAY (Urban), PM e-Bus Sewa, PM E-Drive, the Urban Challenge Fund and NCAP, along with State initiatives including SJMMSVY, e-Nagar, CMUBS and the State Clean Air Programme.
Affordable housing remains a key priority. More than 9.65 lakh houses have been constructed and allotted under PMAY (Urban) and various State housing schemes. Under PMAY 2.0, around 1.2 lakh additional houses are planned to provide safe and dignified housing for eligible families.
Urban mobility is another important area of focus. Gujarat is expanding integrated public transport through city bus services, BRTS, Metro Rail, multimodal integration, non-motorised transport infrastructure, electric mobility and Unified Metropolitan Transport Authorities (UMTAs). The State has operationalised approximately 297 km of BRTS corridors across Ahmedabad, Surat and Rajkot. Ahmedabad Metro has developed a network of around 68 km, while Surat Metro Phase I is nearing completion. More than 1,065 public buses are currently in operation, with over 750 additional electric buses planned under CMUBS, PM e-Bus Sewa and PM E-Drive.
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Alongside physical infrastructure, the Department is strengthening urban governance through technology-enabled service delivery, citizen-centric digital platforms, effective grievance redressal mechanisms and continuous capacity building of Urban Local Bodies.
The State is also leveraging major international sporting events as opportunities for urban development. Preparations for the World Police & Fire Games 2029 and the proposed Commonwealth Games 2030 are driving investments in transport infrastructure, public spaces, sports facilities, hospitality, urban amenities and last-mile connectivity. These investments are expected to leave a lasting legacy by improving the liveability, competitiveness and global profile of Gujarat’s cities.
Q3. Smart governance and digital technologies are redefining urban management. How is Gujarat leveraging innovation to improve municipal service delivery, citizen engagement and urban resilience?
Gujarat is leveraging digital technologies to improve the efficiency, transparency, and responsiveness of urban governance.
The Urban Development & Urban Housing Department has introduced digital platforms such as e-Nagar, the Online Development Permission System (ODPS), mobile governance applications, SCADA systems, utility billing services, AI-enabled urban management tools and GIS-based planning. These initiatives have improved ease of doing business, municipal service delivery and operational efficiency. Urban Local Bodies are increasingly using digital platforms for property tax administration, building permissions, utility management, financial administration, grievance redressal and citizen services. To improve accessibility, Municipal Corporations and major municipalities have established City Civic Centres, supported by digital and mobile service platforms.
The State is also strengthening data-driven urban management through GIS-enabled planning, Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCCs), real-time monitoring systems and digital dashboards. Operational across major cities, ICCCs support round-the-clock monitoring of water supply, sanitation, traffic management, public safety, surveillance, municipal infrastructure and other essential urban services.
Advanced technologies such as Red Light Violation Detection Systems, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and integration with the VAHAN database have strengthened traffic management and enforcement. Technology is also supporting climate resilience through flood monitoring, early warning systems, air quality management, infrastructure monitoring and emergency response.
Looking ahead, the Department will continue to integrate Artificial Intelligence, advanced analytics and digital governance tools to improve urban planning, service delivery and decision-making. These initiatives are expected to strengthen citizen participation, improve grievance redressal and make urban governance more responsive and efficient.
Q4. As industrial corridors, GIFT City, Dholera and other growth centres continue to expand, how is integrated urban planning supporting Gujarat’s vision of becoming a global hub for business and investment?
Gujarat’s development strategy extends beyond industrial growth to creating integrated urban regions that support business, innovation, tourism and investment. Major projects such as GIFT City, Sabarmati Riverfront, DREAM City, Dholera and other emerging growth centres are being supported through investments in urban infrastructure, mobility and regional planning. Preparations for the World Police & Fire Games 2029, the proposed Commonwealth Games 2030 and India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games are also accelerating investments in transport, public infrastructure and urban amenities.
To support this transformation, the Urban Development & Urban Housing Department is strengthening regional connectivity through the development of ring roads in major cities, improving mobility, reducing congestion and enhancing access to economic centres. At the same time, urban renewal programmes are revitalising historic city areas while preserving their cultural heritage.
The Department has developed the Surat Economic Region Plan, covering six districts to promote integrated regional development. Building on this model, six additional City Economic Regions (CERs) are being planned to strengthen economic linkages between cities and surrounding towns. These initiatives integrate land use, transportation and infrastructure planning to improve connectivity, optimise infrastructure investment, generate employment and support balanced regional growth.
In parallel, five satellite towns—Sanand (Ahmedabad), Kalol (Gandhinagar), Savli (Vadodara), Bardoli (Surat) and Hirasar (Rajkot)—are being developed within approximately one hour of their parent cities. These growth centres will provide modern infrastructure and urban amenities while supporting industrial expansion and improving quality of life.
Gujarat is also promoting Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) around the eight Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail stations to create well-connected, mixed-use urban centres.
Through coordinated planning across infrastructure, mobility, economic development and urban governance, Gujarat is developing sustainable and investment-ready urban regions that support the vision of Viksit Gujarat 2047.
Q5. Looking ahead, what is your vision for Gujarat’s urban development over the next decade, and what message would you like to share with policymakers, industry leaders, urban planners and citizens working towards a future-ready Gujarat?
Our vision is to position Gujarat among India’s leading examples of sustainable, inclusive and economically competitive urban development. As the State progresses towards the vision of Viksit Gujarat 2047 and Viksit Bharat 2047, its cities will continue to drive economic growth, innovation, investment and improved quality of life.
Over the next decade, our priorities will include strengthening urban infrastructure, promoting climate-resilient development, expanding sustainable mobility, enhancing
digital governance, increasing affordable housing and improving citizen-centric urban services. Technology, data and innovation will play an important role in improving urban planning, service delivery and governance.
Integrated planning will continue to guide urban expansion, with cities serving as growth centres for their wider City Economic Regions. This approach will strengthen regional connectivity, generate employment, attract investment and support balanced development across Gujarat.
Preparations for the World Police & Fire Games 2029, the proposed Commonwealth Games 2030 and India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games present significant opportunities to accelerate investments in transport, public infrastructure, sports facilities, public spaces, tourism and urban services. Our objective is to ensure that these investments create long-term benefits for citizens while strengthening the competitiveness of Gujarat’s cities.
My message to policymakers, industry leaders, urban planners and citizens is that urban development is a shared responsibility. Through collaboration, innovation and effective planning, Gujarat can continue to build cities that support economic growth, environmental sustainability and a high quality of life while contributing to the vision of Viksit Gujarat 2047.