Gandhinagar, Jan 2 (NationPress) In a significant move towards the aspiration of a Developed India by 2047 and a Developed Gujarat@2047, the government led by Bhupendra Patel has expedited plans for the strategic enhancement of Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.

In alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of empowering smaller urban areas, the state government, under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel's guidance, has embarked on a journey to establish five satellite towns by 2030. Urban planners have been invited to formulate detailed master plans for these cities.

Tenders have been issued to recruit seasoned national and international urban planning consultants. The chosen planners will be responsible for developing master plans within a year, with the goal of providing these towns with metropolitan-level infrastructure and civic facilities. This initiative is anticipated to alleviate the burden on major cities while fostering new economic and employment opportunities closer to urban centers.

Under the state’s “Earning Well-Living Well” urban development framework, the areas of Sanand near Ahmedabad, Savli near Vadodara, Kalol near Gandhinagar, Bardoli near Surat, and Hirasar near Rajkot have been earmarked as the initial five satellite towns. These cities will be designed as economically vibrant hubs with cohesive planning for transportation, industry, tourism, education, and healthcare.

A satellite town is characterized as an urban area located within about an hour’s commute from a major city, intended to accommodate population growth and economic activities. By fortifying these towns, the government aims to promote balanced urbanization, create local job opportunities, and alleviate infrastructure strain on more significant urban centers.

The envisioned satellite towns will boast world-class infrastructure, organized public transport, including electric buses, advanced water supply and waste disposal systems, ring roads, urban forest parks, developed lakes, model fire stations, and mixed-use zones where residential, commercial, and office spaces coexist.

To ensure rapid progress, dedicated approval and oversight committees have been set up. Emphasizing the critical nature of urban areas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has articulated that cities serve as the growth engines of the nation and must evolve as centers of economic activity to realize a developed India.

He has remarked that a significant number of India’s startups are emerging from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, many spearheaded by women, illustrating the immense untapped potential of these smaller urban centers.

This initiative positions Gujarat’s smaller cities as pivotal players in future growth, marking a substantial stride towards inclusive and sustainable urban development as we approach 2047.