Gandhinagar, November 12
Gujarat Chief Minister, Bhupendra Patel approved a budget of Rs 253.94 crore for a series of development projects across 14 Towns and One Metropolis, aiming to enhance the ease of living for people across Gujarat on Tuesday.
In 2010, as part of Gujarat's golden jubilee celebrations, then Chief Minister Narendra Modi, now the Prime Minister, launched Swarnim Jayanti Mukhyamantri Shaheri Vikas Yojana. This initiative was designed to tackle the challenges of rapid urbanization, driven by the state's growing industries and world-class development. Thanks to the scheme's ongoing success, it has been extended until 2026-27. Under this initiative, funds are provided to local self-governing institutions to improve civic amenities and urban welfare. As part of this program, Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel has approved Rs 253.94 crore under Swarnim Jayanti Mukhyamantri Shaheri Vikas Yojana for the urban infrastructure and facilities enhancement.
As part of this, Rs 6 crore has been allocated to Jasdan Municipality for a unique riverfront project along the Bhadar River, Rs10.29 crore to Halol Municipality for a town hall, and Rs 8.64 crore to Viramgam Municipality for road widening and a new fort wall. For Junagadh Municipal Corporation, Rs 40 crore has been sanctioned for the development of a sports complex, town hall, and heritage work at Narsinh Vidya Mandir building.
The projects that shape a city's identity include heritage and tourism, exhibition halls, traffic circle islands, waterbody landscaping, riverfronts, lake beautification, museums, iconic bridges, and other iconic developments to elevate the city's appeal.
In addition, Rs 25.29 crore has been approved for stormwater drainage projects in Pardi Municipality, Rs 25.52 crore in Patan Municipality, and Rs 26.69 crore in Veraval-Patan Municipality for underground drainage and water supply systems, including areas within the Somnath Trust.
Further approvals include Rs 24.54 crore for Karmasad Municipality, Rs 14.93 crore for Umargam Municipality, and Rs 9.11 crore for Bilimora Municipality for underground drainage infrastructure. Altogether, Rs 126.08 crore has been allocated under Swarnim Jayanti Mukhyamantri Shaheri Vikas Yojana for these critical urban infrastructure improvements.
Under Swarnim Jayanti Mukhyamantri Shaheri Vikas Yojana, key infrastructure works encompass water supply, underground sewer management, drainage systems, irrigation projects, and essential amenities for slum areas.
For outgrowth development, Rs 5.94 crore has been sanctioned for Botad Municipality to construct 60 CC roads, while Rs 53.68 lakh has been allocated for Porbandar-Chhaya Municipality to support Private Society Public Participation Works (Khangi Society Jan Bhagidari) projects, covering drinking water pipelines, CC roads, and LED street lighting.
An additional Rs 2.52 crore has been allocated for the renovation of a 2.1 km stretch of NHAI road in Chorwad Municipality under Mukhyamantri Shaheri Sadak Yojana. Moreover, Rs 80 lakh has been granted for road resurfacing and repairs, to Tankara and Vaghodia Municipalities, due to monsoon damage.
Since its inception in 2010, Swarnim Jayanti Mukhyamantri Shaheri Vikas Yojana has seen a total budget allocation of Rs 61,977 crore. Under this budget, municipalities and municipal corporations statewide have been sanctioned for 67,360 infrastructure projects, with Rs 32,647 crore already disbursed. Through Mukhyamantri Shaheri Sadak Yojana, Rs 3,110.32 crore has been granted for 6,462 projects across urban and metropolitan areas.
In addition, Rs 1,887.56 crore has been allocated for 1,214 projects in outgrowth areas, with Rs 1,591.11 crore approved for 201 unique city identity projects. The state government has also provided Rs 2,431.51 crores for 43,804 public welfare projects under the Private Society Public Participation Works (Khangi Society Jan Bhagidari) in towns and metropolis.