Gujarat government increases urban development budget to over Rs 30,000 crore

The Gujarat government has significantly increased its urban development budget, which has grown more than 45-fold over the last two decades. Minister Jitu Vaghani stated that the allocation for 2025-26 has reached approximately Rs 30,325 crore, representing a more than 40 per cent increase from the previous year. Over the last five years, more than Rs 92,000 crore has been allocated for the welfare and development of the state's urban population.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has issued directives to municipal corporations and local bodies to ensure the quality and effective use of public funds. During a recent event in Gandhinagar, Rs 3,850 crore in checks were distributed to urban local bodies for development works. The Chief Minister emphasized that officials must monitor the status of completed projects alongside new ones to ensure they meet established standards.

Additional directives from the Chief Minister include the use of reinforced cement concrete (RCC) for new roads, an increased focus on urban cleanliness, and the reservation of approximately one per cent of land in new town planning schemes for greenery, such as parks and oxygen parks.