"The internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow."
When the entire world is to become a global village, it is highly important
that the might of the scientific and technological innovations be harnessed for
the well being and ease of work for parties, the government and the citizens. The
internet and the mobile technology have brought the vast treasure of information
at our finger tips. It is high time we start using such technologies to enlighten
the lives of the people we work for.
I am much pleased to learn that the Gujarat Urban Development Mission is modernizing its Website by hosting Government of India's flagship schemes like Amrut, Smart City Mission and Govt. of Gujarat Swarnim Jayanti Mukhya Mantri Shaheri Vikas Yojana and E-Nagar. I am sure the new website of the GUDM will be people friendly and more useful. My heartiest wishes to the Team GUDM for its initiatives.
Gujarat is one of the most urbanized states in the country with urban population
of 2.57 crore accounting for 42.58% of the State's total population of 6.04 crore.
The decennial growth rate of urban population is 35.83%. The urban sprawl comprises
eight Municipal Corporations and 159 Municipalities including 18 Class "A", 33 Class
"B", 45 Class "C" and 63 Class "D" Municipalities. Over and above, there are 16
constituted Urban/Area Development Authorities and 113 designated Area Development
Authorities.
Burgeoning growth in urbanization has brought with it an increased pressure on physical
and social infrastructure. The challenges of urbanization have unleashed a whole
world of opportunities. Fully responsive to the needs and aspirations of the urban
residents, the State Government formulated a comprehensive urban governance strategy
and road-map in the "Urban Year 2005" under the visionary leadership of the Hon'ble
Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
"VISION"
Creating Clean, Green, Efficient,
Vibrant, Productive and Sustainable Cities
within a reasonable time-frame
with due thrust on People's Participation and Public-Private Partnership
This was followed by the environment-friendly campaign "Nirmal Gujarat" and "Garib
Samruddhi Yojana" aimed at the empowerment of the urban poor. The vision has been
widened and carried forward in the framework of the "Swarnim Jayanti Mukhya Mantri
Shaheri Vikas Yojana" (Chief Minister's Urban Development Scheme) initially with
an ambitious outlay of Rs. 7,000 crore to help realize the Urban Vision as also
administrative & fiscal reforms in the Urban Local Bodies(ULBs), and subsequently
with Rs. 18,000 crore over the next five years.