Inside The Secretariat: Parking Policy, AI In Administration, & Real Estate Boom

Urban Traffic Crisis Demands a Parking Policy

With the rapidly growing population, the number of vehicles is increasing at an equally fast pace. In such a situation, the only effective way to relieve cities in the state from traffic congestion is to formulate and implement a comprehensive parking policy. There is also a need to introduce a mandatory law that allows the purchase of a new vehicle only if adequate parking space is available. According to official data from the Transport Department, the number of registered vehicles in the state is approaching 31.1 million, of which 24.7 million are two-wheelers alone. Every year, an average of 1 to 1.5 million vehicles are added to the roads. In terms of population-to-vehicle ratio, there is nearly one vehicle for every two citizens. The biggest problem is that residential, commercial, and public areas lack adequate parking facilities, forcing people to park their vehicles along roadsides. This roadside parking significantly contributes to traffic congestion and disrupts smooth traffic movement. Under these circumstances, the time has come to frame and implement a comprehensive parking policy to manage the growing number of vehicles and ensure better traffic regulation in urban areas.

Urban Bodies Now Under IAS Control

With the tenure of four major municipal corporations in Gujarat coming to an end, the state government has recently appointed administrators to run these civic bodies. As a result, the command of these cities has temporarily shifted from elected public representatives to IAS officers. Among the appointments, Mukesh Kumar has been made the administrator of Ahmedabad, Shalini Agrawal for Vadodara, Milind Torawane for Surat, Aarti Kanwar for Jamnagar, Ramya Mohan for Rajkot and Harshad Patel for Bhavnagar. Significantly, the six officers appointed by the state government have previously served in these respective cities. This prior administrative experience means they are already familiar with local conditions as well as the key civic issues faced by residents. The state government has adopted a similar approach in municipalities where elections have been delayed after the completion of their term. In such cases too, administrators have been appointed to ensure that civic administration continues without disruption until the electoral process is completed.

AI Use Rises, Government Plans Expert Shield

As the Gujarat government gradually increases the use of Artificial Intelligence in administration, concerns over fake news and deepfakes have emerged as a major challenge. To address this issue, the government is preparing to frame specific guidelines to ensure that official documents such as Government Resolutions (GRs) and public announcements are not tampered with by malicious elements. To strengthen data management and ensure the proper use of technology, the government is planning to seek assistance from experts. The aim is to develop mechanisms to keep private and sensitive files secure while using advanced digital systems. According to sources, senior government officials will be given specialised training on the protection and sharing of data and official files. The training programmes are expected to include modules on Artificial Intelligence, data management and cyber security, enabling officials to handle digital information more safely and efficiently in the evolving technological landscape.

LPG Crunch Puts Mona Khandhar to the Test

Amid complaints about inadequate availability of LPG cylinders for domestic use in Gujarat due to the changing situation in the Middle East, Mona Khandhar, Additional Chief Secretary of the Food and Civil Supplies Department, is facing a crucial administrative test. Senior officials of her department and the Civil Supplies Corporation have been engaged in continuous meetings to assess the situation and ensure smooth supply. The Food and Civil Supplies Department officially claims that Gujarat is facing comparatively fewer difficulties than many other states in the country because around 30% of households in the state receive domestic PNG gas through pipelines. However, the distribution of LPG cylinders is being closely monitored to prevent any disruption in supply. At the same time, the state has implemented a 50% cut in industrial LPG supply to prioritise domestic consumption. The government is also keeping a strict watch on unauthorised storage and black-marketing of LPG cylinders, ensuring that the available stock reaches consumers without misuse or diversion.

CS Pushes System for Better Reservoir Water Use

At a time when constructing large reservoirs like Narmada, Dharoi and Ukai has become increasingly difficult in Gujarat, the state’s Chief Secretary has for the first time taken a serious initiative to ensure the optimal use of water available in existing reservoirs. Chief Secretary M.K. Das has instructed officials to develop a system that ensures water is used judiciously and primarily for the welfare of farmers. During a recent meeting, Das told officials that while reservoir water is already being used for irrigation, expanding its efficient use could further boost agriculture and accelerate economic growth through the farming sector. He also directed officials to further upgrade the i-Khedut portal to improve planning and monitoring related to water usage and agricultural benefits. It is noteworthy that Saurashtra has the highest number of reservoirs in the state, with 141, followed by 20 in Kutch, 15 in North Gujarat, 17 in Central Gujarat and 13 in South Gujarat, taking the total number of reservoirs in the state to 207. According to official data, reservoirs in Gujarat currently hold around 72 percent of their water storage capacity. The Chief Secretary’s intervention is seen as an effort to ensure that the available water resources are managed more efficiently to support agriculture and rural development.

Prosperous Gujarat, Persistent Malnutrition!

Gujarat is often described as a prosperous state, but the figures on malnutrition suggest that the time has come for the government to frame a comprehensive health policy. Over the past two years, the Health Department has spent around ₹2,000 crore on programmes aimed at controlling malnutrition, yet the expected improvement in the situation has not been seen. According to official data, 5.70 lakh children in the state are suffering from malnutrition, of which 3.21 lakh are from tribal areas alone. This indicates that the problem remains particularly severe in districts with large tribal populations and has not yet been brought under effective control. Despite the implementation of around 17 different schemes aimed at addressing malnutrition, the latest figures remain worrying. In an effort to improve monitoring, the Women and Child Development Department has recently proposed a ₹24-crore AI-based special monitoring centre to obtain real-time data on malnutrition. However, experts believe that unless strong ground-level interventions are carried out, the large financial investments made in these schemes may not deliver the desired results.

Pre-Poll Bureaucratic Shake-Up Likely in Gujarat

With the announcement of local body elections in Gujarat expected soon after the completion of the ongoing Budget Session of the Assembly, significant changes are likely in the state’s administrative setup. Major reshuffles are being considered in the district administration as well as within the Home Department before the Model Code of Conduct comes into effect. These proposed changes may include transfers of district collectors, district development officers and several police officials. The state government is reportedly weighing these moves in view of the upcoming elections to ensure administrative preparedness. Elections to municipal corporations, district and taluka panchayats, and municipalities in the state have been pending for quite some time. Since the Budget Session is currently underway and election preparations have not yet been fully completed, administrators have been appointed to run several local bodies. Notably, the upcoming elections are expected to be more interesting this time as the Election Commission of India has carried out the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process for the first time. As a result, significant additions and deletions have been made in the electoral rolls, leading to substantial updates in the voter lists.

Real Estate Boom Swells State Revenue!

The rapid pace of real estate activity and the sharp rise in land and property prices in Gujarat have significantly boosted the state government's treasury. According to officials from the Finance Department, stamp duty revenue is expected to reach around ₹19,800 crore by the end of the current financial year, and is projected to touch ₹21,000 crore next year. Stamp duty collections have been increasing steadily, with an average annual rise of nearly ₹2,000 crore. In the 2025–26 state budget, the Finance Department had decided to reduce stamp duty on certain specific documents. However, the applicable stamp duty rate still stands at 4.9 percent including surcharge, along with 1 percent registration fees. Meanwhile, the registration fee for women has been waived, resulting in a noticeable rise in property registrations in the names of women. It is noteworthy that the state had recorded ₹13,731 crore in stamp duty revenue in 2023–24, highlighting the sharp growth in collections driven by the ongoing boom in the real estate sector.