The Gujarat government has taken a major step towards decongesting its major cities and promoting regional growth. On Friday, the state invited expressions of interest from urban planners to prepare comprehensive master plans for the development of five new satellite towns.
Five Towns Identified for Holistic Development
These satellite towns will be developed adjacent to Gujarat's five largest urban centres. The proposed locations are Sanand for Ahmedabad, Savli for Vadodara, Kalol for Gandhinagar, Bardoli for Surat, and Hirasar for Rajkot. The state has initiated the process of appointing planners through a tender system.
An official statement released on Friday outlined the core objective: to reduce the immense pressure on the state's major cities. By 2030, the government plans to equip these satellite towns with metro-like facilities and significantly boost their economic capacity, creating self-sustaining urban ecosystems.
Vision of World-Class Infrastructure and Amenities
The state envisions these towns as models of modern urban living. They are defined as towns located near a major city, reachable within an hour's commute, which will generate new employment opportunities. The infrastructure plan is ambitious and citizen-centric, aiming to match the facilities of the adjoining major city.
The proposed amenities include:
- State-of-the-art infrastructure and well-organized public transport, including electric bus services.
- Advanced water supply and scientific waste management systems.
- Ring roads for smoother connectivity and reduced inner-town traffic.
- Urban forest parks and scenic lakes for recreation and environmental balance.
- Model fire stations and mixed-use infrastructure where offices, homes, and shops are located in proximity.
Aligning with the Viksit Bharat 2047 Goal
This initiative is firmly rooted in a larger national vision. The state government's statement highlighted that the move builds on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for the strategic growth of Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. This is seen as a crucial step to accelerate holistic development in every state and achieve the goal of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047.
The development of these satellite towns represents a forward-looking urban strategy for Gujarat. It seeks to manage urban sprawl, distribute economic growth more evenly, and provide a high quality of life with modern amenities, all while supporting the long-term development objectives of the nation.
