The Gujarat government has initiated the process of developing five satellite towns across the state and has invited urban planners to submit proposals for preparing comprehensive master plans for these locations. The move follows the state’s announcement in October 2025 identifying these towns as part of a broader strategy to reduce pressure on major urban centres.
The tender process for appointing urban planning consultants has now begun. Planners with both national and international experience have been encouraged to participate, reflecting the state’s intent to adopt global best practices in urban development.
Under this initiative, the government aims to equip the selected towns with metro-like urban facilities by 2030 while strengthening their economic base. The objective is to decongest large cities by creating well-planned urban hubs that can support employment generation, quality housing, and essential services closer to where people live and work.
According to an official statement, the programme aligns with Gujarat’s Urban Development Year 2025 vision themed “Earning Well–Living Well.” The five towns identified for development as satellite towns are Sanand near Ahmedabad, Savli near Vadodara, Kalol near Gandhinagar, Bardoli near Surat, and Hirasar near Rajkot.
A satellite town is defined as an urban centre located in close proximity to a major city and generally accessible within an hour. These towns are expected to function as self-sustaining economic and social ecosystems, thereby reducing congestion, infrastructure strain, and migration pressure on larger cities.
The state government plans to appoint a consultant within the next two months. Once appointed, the consultant will be responsible for preparing and finalising the master plans for all five towns within a one-year timeframe.
The master planning exercise will focus on integrated and citizen-centric urban development. Each town will be designed with modern transportation systems, industrial and commercial zones, tourism infrastructure, educational institutions, and advanced healthcare facilities. Emphasis will also be placed on holistic town planning that balances economic growth with environmental sustainability and quality of life.
Proposed infrastructure components include organised public transport networks supported by electric buses, efficient water supply and waste management systems, ring roads to manage traffic flow, urban forest parks, lakes, model fire stations, and mixed-use zones combining residential, office, and commercial developments.
To ensure effective execution, an approval and monitoring committee will oversee the implementation of the project and track progress to ensure that all planned facilities are delivered within stipulated timelines.
In the initial phase, development efforts will be concentrated on these five towns, which are expected to serve as models for future satellite town projects across the state.