Gujarat hosts National Conclave on Urban Planning

GANDHINAGAR: The Chief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the state’s first ever National Conclave on Urban Planning, in Ahmedabad. According to him, it will serve as the “Amrit Kaal” of urban well-being.

CM Pal recognised the Sabarmati Riverfront’s world-class infrastructure development as the best example of political will during this conference. The expansion of the urban economy is essential, according to the CM, if Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to turn the country into a $5 trillion economy is to become a reality.

According to CM Patel, various initiatives such as Smart Classroom and Smart Anganwadi, Smart Parking and Smart Traffic Management, Smart Drainage and Smart Water Management, and Smart Charging and Smart Electric Bus are improving the lives of ordinary people and thereby enhancing ease of living. He added that the country’s limited wealth, industrialisation, infrastructure, and the lack of adequate medical and educational services in rural areas have all contributed to a growth in urbanisation over the past few decades.

For the construction of smart cities, the Government of India has chosen six cities, including Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, and Dahod, in which Vadodara and Ahmedabad rank in the top ten cities for both Municipal Corporation and ease of life. Housing for people from socially and educationally disadvantaged classes is reserved for 5% of the TP (Town Planning) scheme land area given by the Gujarat government. Additionally, the urban forest strategy has been used to build a clean, green metropolis.

Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, expressed his belief that cities should be developed inclusively, keeping even the poorest residents in mind. According to Amitabh Kant, former CEO of NITI Aayog, Gujarat has served as the nation’s best example of urbanisation. He also underlined the need of transit-oriented development of cities, which involves boosting the usage of public transportation and creating amenities with civic goals like bicycle lanes and sidewalks. He added that in order to meet the nation’s carbon emission targets, urbanisation and decarbonisation are crucial for the sustainable growth of the nation. He suggested that a liveable city may be built by scientifically planning urban growth and raising the floor space index (FSI).

According to Pankaj Kumar, Chief Secretary of Gujarat, a successful development is one that puts a smile on the faces of the people. He expressed confidence that Gujarat will lead urban development across the nation. Additionally, he claimed that since PM Modi chose to include village birthday celebrations in Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Gujarat has now celebrated the birthdays of 7,000 villages during the past three months.

Kirit Parmar, Mayor of Ahmedabad; Mukesh Kumar, Chief Secretary Urban Development; Lochan Sehra, Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner; Keshav Verma, Chairman of the Sabarmati Development Board, well-known leader Surendra Patel, and other Central and State Government officials, various leaders, and office bearers of municipal corporations of states and cities were present at the event.