₹11,000 Cr Worth Urban Transformation Projects Set for Launch in Gujarat Under 2026 Development Agenda

Gandhinagar, March 27: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to visit Gujarat on March 31, where he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for various urban development projects. According to the Gujarat Chief Minister's Office (CMO), the visit marks a significant milestone in the state's urban development journey, which began when PM Modi, as Chief Minister, declared 2005 as the 'Urban Year'.

This journey has now completed 20 years in 2025, with the state witnessing significant urbanization over the past two decades. To further accelerate this progress, the government under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel declared 2025 as the 'Urban Development Year'.

Smart City Mission: 357 Projects Completed Worth Over ₹11,000 Crore

Under the Smart City Mission launched by the Government of India, six cities in Gujarat—Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Gandhinagar, and Dahod—were selected. Across these cities:

359 projects worth over ₹11,507 crore were undertaken
357 projects worth ₹11,277 crore have been completed
The remaining 2 projects, valued at ₹229 crore, are nearing completion

Road and Transport Infrastructure

Gujarat today boasts a well-developed transport network with extensive road and railway connectivity, international airports, and ports. Key developments include:

Overbridges and underbridges being constructed across the state to manage increasing urban traffic
A strong road network being developed in the four major cities—Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Vadodara, and Surat
Sudarshan Setu, a state-of-the-art signature bridge connecting Dwarka and Beyt Dwarka, with approach roads and parking facilities
Major highways under construction, including the Jamnagar-Bathinda Highway, Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway, and Porbandar-Dwarka National Highway
Two greenfield expressways announced: Namoshakti Expressway (430 km from Deesa to Pipavav) and Somnath-Dwarka Expressway (680 km)

Metro and Rail Connectivity

Gujarat has witnessed significant expansion in rail-based urban transport:

Ahmedabad Metro Phase 2 completed, strengthening connectivity between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar
Orders placed for 24 trainsets for Surat Metro, set to expand sustainable urban transport
India's first bullet train project progressing rapidly in Gujarat
Five Vande Bharat Express trains now operational in the state
89 railway stations being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, with 18 already inaugurated

Aviation Sector Growth

Under the Prime Minister's guidance, Gujarat's aviation sector has seen modern development:

Greenfield airport at Hirasar in Rajkot constructed at a cost of ₹1,405 crore
Surat International Airport made operational at a cost of ₹3,400 crore
Regional air connectivity improved under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme at airports in Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Kandla, Keshod, Mundra, and Porbandar

Water Security and Sanitation Under AMRUT

Under the AMRUT 2.0 mission, launched in 2021 to make cities "water secure" and self-reliant, Gujarat has achieved significant progress during Urban Development Year 2025:

Water supply projects worth ₹630.39 crore implemented, ensuring reliable water access to 82,328 households
Sewerage projects worth ₹575.58 crore carried out, covering 24,206 households
67 MLD additional sewage treatment capacity created
113.31 km of new sewer lines laid

Housing Achievements Under PM Awas Yojana

Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) , Gujarat has emerged as a leading performer:

9,19,204 houses constructed across urban Gujarat
1,144 houses built in Rajkot under the Lighthouse Project using advanced monolithic concrete construction technology
Under PM Awas Yojana (Urban) 2.0, announced in 2025, over 1 lakh houses have already been approved

Urban Governance Expansion

The Government of Gujarat has upgraded nine municipalities to municipal corporations, including Nadiad, Surendranagar, Gandhidham, Morbi, Navsari, Mehsana, Vapi, and Porbandar. The total number of municipal corporations in the state has now increased to 17, enabling more structured and well-planned urban governance.

Nearby rural areas have been merged into these municipal corporations, enabling residents to access better urban infrastructure and civic amenities.

Budget Allocation for Urban Development

To make Gujarat's cities future-ready, the State Budget for 2026-27 has allocated ₹33,504 crore to the Urban Development and Urban Housing Department. Key allocations include:

₹16,116 crore for the Swarnim Jayanti Mukhyamantri Urban Development Scheme, an increase of approximately 17 per cent over the previous provision
₹1,278 crore for developing Ahmedabad and other major cities as 'Olympic-ready cities' in preparation for the 2030 Commonwealth Games, including international-standard sports complexes, stadiums, and modern public transport infrastructure
Additional allocations for water supply, drainage systems, lake development, and transport infrastructure, including metro expansion in Ahmedabad and Surat

Outlook

As Prime Minister Modi's March 31 visit approaches, Gujarat's two-decade journey of urban development stands as a model for infrastructure-led growth across India. With the completion of 357 smart city projects, expansion of metro and rail networks, development of world-class aviation infrastructure, and significant achievements in housing and water security, the state is positioned for continued urban transformation.

The ₹11,000 crore worth of completed smart city projects, combined with the massive budget allocations for future development, reflect the state's commitment to improving "ease of living" and citizen well-being across its rapidly growing urban centers.