GANDHINAGAR: Following the successful bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, the Gujarat government is accelerating urbanization efforts. They have instructed all 17 municipal corporations (MCs) and urban development authorities (UDAs) to complete their draft development plans by June 30. Additionally, 2025 has been designated as Urban Development Year to promote urban progress.
Currently, the nine new municipal corporations—Navsari, Gandhidham, Morbi, Vapi, Anand, Nadiad, Mehsana, Porbandar, and Surendranagar—lack draft development plans (DPs), while the eight previously established corporations are in the process of revising theirs.
In another major step, the UDD minister has directed all MCs and UDAs to complete outstanding town planning (TP) schemes by the same June 30 deadline. These schemes have been pending for periods ranging from two to twenty years, requiring attention from urban bodies by mid-next year.
“The state government has mandated that all UDAs and municipal corporations finalize their development plans by June. Moreover, any TP schemes outstanding for over two years must also meet the June 30 deadline to ensure efficient urbanization,” stated UDD minister Kanu Desai.
During a meeting involving UDA and MC officials, various development projects were discussed, highlighting that delays in planned development are primarily due to the new corporations not having their draft development plans ready and existing DPs being under revision.
Earlier this year, the Gujarat government established nine new municipal corporations, raising the total count to 17. The newly recognized municipalities include larger cities such as Navsari, Gandhidham, Morbi, Vapi, Anand, Nadiad, Mehsana, Porbandar, and Surendranagar. The state government also established the Himmatnagar Urban Development Authority (Huda) in Sabarkantha district.
Sources indicate that this push to finalize development plans and outstanding TP schemes is also influenced by the upcoming local body elections, scheduled for the first half of 2026, which will involve elections for municipal corporations, municipalities, district panchayats, and taluka panchayats.
