According to officials, a decision in this regard was taken at a meeting of the Gujarat Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on the first day of the New Year, to meet the long-pending demand of the residents of Morbi, Anand, Nadiad, Vapi, Mehsana, Surendranagar, Navsari, Porbandar and Gandhidham to upgrade their respective municipalities into Municipal Corporations.

The order issued by the General Administration department of the Gujarat government said nine IAS and GAS (Selection Grade) officers have been appointed as administrative heads of these new Municipal Corporations.

IAS officer Swapnil Khare has been appointed as the Municipal Commissioner of Morbi. Khare was holding the post of Deputy Municipal Commissioner of Rajkot.

Another IAS officer, Milind Bapna, who was the District Development Officer of Anand, has been shifted to Anand Municipal Corporation as its Commissioner. Meanwhile, Commissioner Mirant Jatin Parikh (IAS) of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has been shifted to Nadiad Municipal Corporation as Commissioner.

According to the state government’s order, IAS officer Yogesh Choudhary, who is currently holding the post of Managing Director, Dakshin Gujarat Vij Company Ltd, Surat, will be the first Commissioner of Vapi Municipal Commission.

Regional Commissioner of Municipalities Ravindra Dnyaneshwar Khatale (IAS) has been appointed as Commissioner of the Mehsana Municipal Corporation, while District Development Officer of Bhavnagar, G H Solanki (IAS), has been appointed the Commissioner of Surendranagar Municipal Corporation.

Deputy Municipal Commissioner of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation Dev Choudhary (IAS) has been shifted to Navsari Municipal Corporation as its Commissioner.

Two Gujarat Administrative Service (Selection Grade) officers H J Prajapati and M P Pandya have been made commissioners of Porbandar and Gandhidham Municipal Corporations, respectively.  

New District Created

At the meeting of the state Cabinet, the Gujarat government also approved creation of a new district Vav-Tharad. This fulfilled the long-pending demand of the people of the area, officials said.

Gujarat government spokesperson Hrishikesh Patel, in an official statement, said, "With the creation of new Municipal Corporations, their number in the state has now gone up to 17, while the number of municipalities stands at 149."

Area included in new Municipal Corporations:

Navsari: Navsari Municipality and Dantej, Dharagiri, Eru and Hansapore Gram Panchayats have merged to form the new Municipal Corporation.

Gandhidham:  Gandhidham Municipality and Kidana, Galpadar, Antajal, Shinay, Meghpar-Borichi and Meghpar-Kumbhardi Gram Panchayats have been merged to form the new Municipal Corporation.

Morbi: Morbi Municipality and Shaktasanala, Ravapara, Lilapar, Amreli, Nani Vavdi, Bhadiyad (Jawahar), Trajpar (Maliya Vanaliya), Mahendranagar (Indiranagar) and Madhapar/Vajepar OG Gram Panchayats have been merged to form new Municipal Corporation.

Vapi:  Vapi Municipality and Balitha, Salvav, Chiri, Chharwada, Chanod, Karvad, Namdha, Chandor, Morai, Vatar, Kunta Gram Panchayats have been merged to form the new Municipal Corporation.

Anand: Anand, Vallabhvidyanagar and Karamsad Municipalities and Mogri, Jitodia, Gamdi and Lambhvel Gram Panchayats have been merged to form the new Municipal Corporation.

Mehsana: Mehsana Municipality and Fatepura, Ramosana, Ramosana N.A. Area, Dediasan, Palavasana, Heduva Rajgar, Heduva Hanumant, Taleti and Lakhvad Gram Panchayats have been merged to form the new Municipal Corporation, as well as some survey numbered areas of Palodar, Panchot, Gilosan, Nugar, Sakhpurda and Lakhvad Gram Panchayats.

Surendranagar: Surendranagar/ Dudhrej/ Wadhwan Municipalities and Khamisna, Kherali, Malod, Mulchand and Chamaraj Gram Panchayats have been merged to form the new Municipal Corporation.

Porbandar: Porbandar/Chhaya Municipalities and Vanana (Virpur), Digvijaygarh, Ratanpar and Jhawar Gram Panchayats have been merged to form the new Municipal Corporation.

Nadiad: Nadiad Municipality and Yoginagar, Pipalg, Dumral, Fatepura, Kamla, Manjipura, Dabhan, Bilodara, Uttarsanda and Tundel Gram Panchayats have been merged to form the new Municipal Corporation.