Amit Shah launches ₹1400-crore development projects in Ahmedabad, calls for drug-free Gujarat
Projects include slum rehabilitation, smart schools, drainage infrastructure, a water treatment plant and a four-kilometre overbridge. Shah also announced a December 1 control room to strengthen action against drug-related activities.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah
AHMEDABAD: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah has inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for development projects worth approximately ₹1,400 crore in Ahmedabad, covering urban infrastructure, housing, education, water management and road connectivity. He also called for a coordinated public campaign to make Gujarat drug-free by December 31, 2028, a year ahead of the Centre’s target for a drug-free India.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and other dignitaries attended the event.
Of the projects announced, works worth approximately ₹1,024 crore are being undertaken by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), while projects worth around ₹400 crore have been completed or initiated with support from the Gujarat Government’s Roads and Buildings Department and the Central Government.
Slum rehabilitation project to benefit over 55,000 people
A major component of the development programme is the rehabilitation of slum dwellers in Ahmedabad’s Ramapir No Tekro area.
Shah said the housing initiative, originally launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2007, is being taken forward by the Gujarat Government under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
The project aims to provide permanent housing to residents, with more than 55,000 people expected to gain access to social security, recreational, educational and healthcare facilities within an integrated complex once the entire development is completed.
The broader rehabilitation initiative in Ahmedabad is intended to provide permanent homes to nearly one lakh slum dwellers.
Shah also inaugurated two primary schools in the area and highlighted the conversion of municipal primary schools into smart schools. He urged residents to prioritise their children’s education as part of the broader effort to improve living conditions.
Overbridge, drainage and water infrastructure projects
Several infrastructure projects aimed at improving connectivity and urban services were also included in the programme.
The foundation stone was laid for a pump house to improve rainwater drainage in the Bopal-Ghuma area. Shah said the objective was to establish a system before 2029 to address the area’s recurring waterlogging problems.
Work also commenced on the four-kilometre-long ISKCON overbridge. The project is expected to improve connectivity between Sarkhej and Gandhinagar by reducing travel time and providing signal-free movement. It is targeted for completion within three years.
The Jalasapur Water Treatment Plant was also inaugurated as part of the programme.
Shah said development projects worth approximately ₹25,000 crore had been completed in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency over the past seven years. He reiterated the vision of building a green and developed Gandhinagar constituency.
Drug-free Gujarat campaign gets December 2028 target
Alongside the infrastructure announcements, Shah called for greater public participation in the campaign against drug abuse and trafficking.
Referring to the Centre’s target of achieving a drug-free India by December 31, 2029, he urged citizens to work towards making Gujarat drug-free by December 31, 2028.
He appealed to citizens to report information about the sale or consumption of drugs through the 1033 helpline, assuring that the identity of informants would remain confidential and that strict action would be taken.
Shah emphasised the role of teachers and parents in identifying early signs of substance abuse among young people. He urged teachers to arrange appropriate testing and consult parents when they notice significant changes in a child’s behaviour.
He also said that de-addiction centres were being established to support young people struggling with substance abuse, adding that individuals seeking treatment should not feel ashamed or fear public disclosure of their identities.
Control room to become operational from December 1
Shah announced that a dedicated control room would become operational from December 1 to strengthen the response to drug-related information.
According to the Home Minister, a mechanism would be put in place to ensure action within three hours of receiving information. He said the system would use a scientific approach to track drug-related activities and target those controlling and operating trafficking networks.
He stressed that government action alone would not be sufficient to eliminate drug abuse and trafficking, calling for active cooperation among citizens, teachers, parents and law enforcement agencies.
During the programme, Shah also administered a pledge to local residents to contribute to the campaign for a drug-free Gujarat.
The development announcements and anti-drug campaign reflect the state government’s parallel focus on urban infrastructure, housing and public welfare, alongside efforts to address substance abuse and its social consequences.
