Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
| Photo Credit: ANI
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday (October 15, 2025) said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ushered in a new era of urban development in the country, drawing inspiration from the ideals of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Speaking at the inauguration of the two-day National Urban Conclave and Mayoral Summit 2025 in Ahmedabad, the chief minister said Sardar Patel’s tenure as the president of the Ahmedabad Municipality between 1924 and 1928 had laid the foundation for modern urban governance in India.
“Hundred years ago, Sardar Patel demonstrated how an ideal city could be built through well-organised urban planning. His efforts gave the nation its first model of city-centric local administration,” Mr. Patel said.
The chief minister said that Ahmedabad “truly exemplifies PM Modi’s mantra of Vikas bhi Virasat bhi (development along with heritage).”
Mr. Patel credited the Prime Minister for initiating several landmark urban projects since his tenure as Gujarat’s chief minister, including the country’s first successful Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) in Ahmedabad.
He added that the city’s world-renowned Sabarmati Riverfront had become a model for urban transformation nationwide.
“Today, through metro and high-speed rail projects, Ahmedabad is setting an example in urban mobility and multi-modal transport,” he said.
Mr. Patel also informed that Gujarat was the first state in India to release the Net Zero Climate Resilience Ahmedabad City Action Plan 2070, aligning with the Prime Minister’s Net Zero Vision 2070.
“Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, cities across India are developing with smart, sustainable, and robust infrastructure. Initiatives like the AMRUT Mission 2.0, Smart City Mission, and Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 are transforming the country’s urban landscape,” he added.
Published – October 16, 2025 05:56 am IST
