Gandhinagar: The Gujarat government on Sunday announced a major policy to boost urban development and improve administrative transparency. Under the new policy, municipalities can now obtain government land free of cost for key public infrastructure projects.
Jantri Charges Waived for Critical Civic Works
Previously, municipalities had to pay 25 to 50 percent of the jantri rate to acquire government land for development projects. Officials said this financial burden often delayed or stalled essential works.
The new policy will remove this cost for 11 categories of civic projects, enabling faster execution and timely delivery of basic facilities to urban residents.
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Key Public Infrastructure Projects Covered
The free land policy applies to important municipal works, including:
- Municipal service centres (administrative offices)
- Fire stations
- Sewage treatment plants and underground drainage pumping stations
- Water treatment and supply projects
- Storm water drainage systems
- Town halls, community halls, and convention centres
- Other essential infrastructure linked to basic civic amenities
Policy Aims to Improve Transparency and Efficiency
Officials said the move is intended to make urban governance more citizen-friendly. Removing the cost of land acquisition will reduce financial pressure on municipalities, allowing them to focus resources on construction and service delivery.
An official added that this decision would also revive stalled projects that were delayed due to land-related funding issues.
Statewide Impact and Implementation
The policy will apply across Gujarat and is expected to benefit multiple municipalities undertaking development works.
Detailed implementation guidelines will be issued to ensure smooth and uniform execution of the decision across all urban local bodies.
Officials said municipalities will now be able to plan and execute infrastructure projects more efficiently, without the earlier requirement of paying a portion of the jantri value for government land.
