New Delhi: In a significant bureaucratic restructuring aimed at strengthening governance in the National Capital Region (NCR), the Narendra Modi government has bifurcated the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) by creating a dedicated Department of Capital Development. Senior IAS officer D Thara (IAS:1995:Gujarat) has been appointed as the first Secretary of the newly established department.
The appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) as part of a major reshuffle involving several senior IAS officers. Until now, D Thara was serving as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
MoHUA Split into Two Departments
With the restructuring, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs will now function through two specialised verticals:
- Department of Capital Development
- Department of Urban Development
The newly created Department of Capital Development has been established to exclusively oversee governance and development of the National Capital Region, separating capital-specific planning and administration from broader national urban development programmes.
The move is expected to improve administrative efficiency, speed up infrastructure development and enable focused policymaking for Delhi and the NCR.
D Thara Appointed First Secretary
D Thara has been appointed Secretary of the Department of Capital Development by operating a vacant Secretary-level post. As the inaugural head of the department, she will play a crucial role in shaping its institutional framework, policies and governance architecture.
Her appointment comes after nearly seven years of handling major urban development initiatives at the Centre.
Who is IAS D Thara?
D Thara is a 1995-batch IAS officer of the Gujarat cadre and is widely regarded as one of India’s leading administrators in the field of urban governance and infrastructure planning.
Born on 3 July 1971, she hails from Tamil Nadu and entered the Indian Administrative Service through the UPSC Civil Services Examination as a direct recruit.
She possesses a strong academic background with qualifications in both science and public administration:
- B.Sc. in Zoology
- M.Sc. in Biotechnology
- Executive Master’s in Public Administration from the Maxwell School, Syracuse University (USA)
She is proficient in English, Tamil and Gujarati.
Long Association with Urban Development
Before becoming Secretary, D Thara served as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairssince December 2021. She initially joined the ministry as Joint Secretary in July 2019 before being promoted.
During her tenure at the Centre, she has been associated with several flagship urban initiatives, including housing reforms, Smart Cities programmes and urban infrastructure development.
She has also served as a member of important institutions such as:
- Delhi Development Authority (DDA)
- Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC)
Her central deputation has also been extended by the ACC until December 5, 2026, reflecting the government’s confidence in her leadership.
Distinguished Career in Gujarat
Prior to her central deputation, D Thara held several important assignments in the Gujarat government across urban administration, industrial development and district governance.
Among her notable postings were:
- Managing Director, Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC)
- Municipal Commissioner, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation
- Chief Executive Officer, Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA)
- Chief Executive Officer, Gandhinagar Urban Development Authority (GUDA)
- District Collector, Ahmedabad
- District Collector, Kheda
- District Development Officer in Vadodara and Surendranagar
She also served in several other positions, including Special Commissioner, Director, Deputy Municipal Commissioner, Deputy Secretary and Assistant Collector.
Major Contributions to Urban Planning
Over nearly three decades in public service, D Thara has been closely associated with several landmark urban development projects.
She played a significant role in planning and implementing Ahmedabad’s Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS), regarded as one of India’s most successful urban transport initiatives.
She also led the preparation of Ahmedabad’s Second Revised Draft Development Plan-2021 and the first comprehensive development plan for Gandhinagar, incorporating concepts such as:
- Central Business Districts (CBD)
- Transit-Oriented Development
- Affordable Housing Zones
During her tenure as Municipal Commissioner, Ahmedabad expanded access to clean surface water to over 7.5 lakh residents while strengthening sewage treatment and urban water infrastructure.
Her work in Smart City planning and municipal governance earned her recognition as one of Gujarat’s most experienced urban administrators.
Strategic Importance of the New Department
The creation of the Department of Capital Development marks one of the most significant structural reforms in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in recent years.
By separating NCR-specific governance from nationwide urban policy, the government aims to improve project execution, accelerate infrastructure development and create a dedicated institutional mechanism for the planning and administration of India’s capital region.
As the department’s first Secretary, D Thara is expected to play a central role in shaping this new administrative framework while steering some of the country’s most critical urban development initiatives.
