Sabarmati Riverfront extension, GTU campus: Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel reviews progress
Synopsis
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel personally inspected two of the state's most consequential urban projects on Saturday — a 37.60 km Sabarmati riverfront corridor linking Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, due by end-2027, and a 100-acre GTU campus at Lekawada set for completion by October 2026. Both projects anchor the state's ambitions for the Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar-GIFT City corridor.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel inspected the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project and the new GTU campus on 6 June 2025 .
The riverfront project will create a 37.60 km corridor between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar across three phases , to be completed by end of 2027 .
The Karai-to-PDEU stretch alone covers 17.20 kilometres .
The new GTU campus at Lekawada is being built on 100 acres and is expected to be ready by October 2026 .
The projects are part of the state's broader development push along the Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar-GIFT City corridor.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Saturday, 6 June conducted an on-site inspection of two flagship infrastructure projects in the state's capital region — the Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project and the new Gujarat Technological University (GTU) campus at Lekawada — reviewing construction timelines and quality benchmarks at both sites.
Sabarmati Riverfront: Three Phases, 37.60 km Corridor
The riverfront project, being implemented by the Water Resources Department, will create a continuous corridor stretching 37.60 kilometres between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. The development is structured across three stretches: from the Narmada Canal at Karai to Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU), from PDEU to Shahpur Bridge, and from Shahpur Bridge to Chiloda Bridge. The combined Karai-to-PDEU segment alone spans 17.20 kilometres.
Officials briefed the Chief Minister on construction progress across all three phases, which are scheduled for completion by the end of 2027. Patel directed that all works be executed within stipulated timelines and to high-quality standards. 'The projects will be completed within the stipulated timelines and in accordance with high-quality standards,' officials said.
What the Riverfront Project Aims to Deliver
According to the state government, the project is expected to transform the Gandhinagar Metropolitan-GIFT City region by establishing a world-class tourism destination while strengthening road and transport connectivity across Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and surrounding areas. This comes amid the state government's broader push to develop the Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar-GIFT City corridor into a premier urban and financial hub.
New GTU Campus: 100 Acres at Lekawada
Patel also reviewed progress at the new GTU campus being developed on 100 acres of land at Lekawada, near Gandhinagar. The facility is expected to be completed by October 2026 and will serve as a major academic and administrative hub for the university, which oversees engineering, pharmacy, management, and other professional institutions across Gujarat.
Senior officials provided detailed construction updates and outlined completion timelines at both sites during the inspection.
Officials Present at the Review
The inspection was attended by Minister of State for Water Resources Ishwarsinh Patel, Chief Minister's Adviser S. S. Rathore, and senior secretaries, all of whom briefed the Chief Minister on various aspects of the ongoing works.
With both projects advancing simultaneously, the state government appears to be accelerating delivery on its urban development commitments in the capital region ahead of the 2027 completion targets.
Point of View
Not merely administrative oversight. The Sabarmati Riverfront extension is the most visible plank of Gujarat's bid to position the Gandhinagar-GIFT City belt as a globally competitive urban corridor — and delays would carry reputational cost ahead of state elections. The GTU campus at Lekawada, though less headline-grabbing, matters structurally: Gujarat's professional education ecosystem has long suffered from fragmented administration, and a consolidated hub could meaningfully improve governance of the hundreds of affiliated colleges. The real question is whether quality benchmarks will be enforced once political attention moves on — past large-scale infrastructure projects in the state have occasionally met timelines at the cost of finishing standards.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar?
It is a large-scale infrastructure initiative that will create a continuous riverfront corridor stretching 37.60 kilometres between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. The project, implemented by the Water Resources Department, is divided into three phases and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027.
Where is the new GTU campus being built and when will it be ready?
The new Gujarat Technological University campus is being developed on 100 acres of land at Lekawada, near Gandhinagar. It is expected to be completed by October 2026 and will serve as a central academic and administrative hub for GTU-affiliated institutions across Gujarat.
What are the three phases of the Sabarmati Riverfront extension?
The three phases cover: Narmada Canal at Karai to Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU), PDEU to Shahpur Bridge, and Shahpur Bridge to Chiloda Bridge. The combined Karai-to-PDEU stretch spans 17.20 kilometres.
Why does the Sabarmati Riverfront project matter for the GIFT City region?
According to the state government, the project is expected to transform the Gandhinagar Metropolitan-GIFT City region into a world-class tourism destination while also improving road and transport connectivity between Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and surrounding areas.
Who accompanied Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel during the inspection?
The inspection was attended by Minister of State for Water Resources Ishwarsinh Patel, Chief Minister's Adviser S. S. Rathore, and senior secretaries, who provided detailed updates on construction progress and timelines at both sites.
