Gujarat Govt names 16 villages smart, fostering rural development

22 Feb 2024 CW Team

In a landmark decision aimed at bolstering rural development initiatives, it was announced by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel that 16 villages across Gujarat have been designated as smart villages. This transformative step, undertaken as part of the Smart Village Incentive Scheme, underscores the government's commitment to harnessing technology and innovation to uplift rural communities.

Under the purview of this scheme, six villages in Rajkot district, five in Junagadh, and one each in Jamnagar, Botad, and Navsari districts have been identified for their potential to thrive as smart villages. These carefully selected villages were stated to serve as models of sustainable development, integrating modern amenities while preserving the essence of rural life.

To facilitate the holistic development of these smart villages, it was announced that each Gram Panchayat would receive a substantial award amount of five lakh rupees. It was mentioned that this financial incentive is poised to catalyze local initiatives and empower communities to spearhead their own development projects.

The concept of 'Rurban-ATMA Village Facilitation City', endorsed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was emphasised, which emphasizes the transformation of villages into self-sustaining hubs with urban-like conveniences. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel's proactive approach in expanding the Smart Village Incentive Scheme was said to align seamlessly with this overarching vision, ensuring that rural Gujarat thrives in tandem with its urban counterparts.

The Smart Village Scheme, crafted under the Chief Minister's stewardship, was explained to adhere to stringent selection criteria aimed at identifying villages with the greatest potential for holistic development. It was noted that these criteria prioritize access to advanced technology, provision of essential infrastructure, and enhancement of socio-economic well-being.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel's ambitious vision for comprehensive rural development takes a significant leap forward as 16 villages across five districts are officially designated as smart villages. This strategic move aligns with the state's commitment to establishing smart villages, fostering technological advancement, and enhancing the quality of life in rural Gujarat. In a landmark decision aimed at bolstering rural development initiatives, it was announced by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel that 16 villages across Gujarat have been designated as smart villages. This transformative step, undertaken as part of the Smart Village Incentive Scheme, underscores the government's commitment to harnessing technology and innovation to uplift rural communities. Under the purview of this scheme, six villages in Rajkot district, five in Junagadh, and one each in Jamnagar, Botad, and Navsari districts have been identified for their potential to thrive as smart villages. These carefully selected villages were stated to serve as models of sustainable development, integrating modern amenities while preserving the essence of rural life. To facilitate the holistic development of these smart villages, it was announced that each Gram Panchayat would receive a substantial award amount of five lakh rupees. It was mentioned that this financial incentive is poised to catalyze local initiatives and empower communities to spearhead their own development projects. The concept of 'Rurban-ATMA Village Facilitation City', endorsed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was emphasised, which emphasizes the transformation of villages into self-sustaining hubs with urban-like conveniences. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel's proactive approach in expanding the Smart Village Incentive Scheme was said to align seamlessly with this overarching vision, ensuring that rural Gujarat thrives in tandem with its urban counterparts. The Smart Village Scheme, crafted under the Chief Minister's stewardship, was explained to adhere to stringent selection criteria aimed at identifying villages with the greatest potential for holistic development. It was noted that these criteria prioritize access to advanced technology, provision of essential infrastructure, and enhancement of socio-economic well-being.

Infrastructure Urban

17 Sep 2025

Amit Gupta Appointed CFO of Vedanta Jharsuguda Unit

Vedanta Aluminium has announced the appointment of Amit Gupta as Deputy Chief Financial Officer of its aluminium business and Chief Financial Officer of its Jharsuguda unit in Odisha.Gupta has been associated with the Vedanta Group since 2018, beginning as Group Head – FP&A at Vedanta Resources. With over two decades of cross-sector experience, he brings strong expertise in financial strategy, project finance, and business transformation.Prior to this role, he served as CFO of Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO), where he led finance operations for more than four years. He has also held sen..

Infrastructure Energy

17 Sep 2025

Adani Power To Build 2,400 MW Plant in Bihar

Adani Power on Saturday (September 13, 2025) announced plans to set up a 2,400 MW ultra super-critical power plant in Bihar at an investment of $3 billion (around Rs 26.48 billion).The company has signed a 25-year Power Supply Agreement (PSA) with Bihar State Power Generation Company Ltd (BSPGCL) to supply electricity from the project, which will be located at Pirpainti in Bhagalpur district.The PSA follows a Letter of Award issued by BSPGCL to Adani Power on behalf of North Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd (NBPDCL) and South Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd (SBPDCL) in August. Adani P..

Infrastructure Energy

17 Sep 2025

NTPC Plans Nuclear Power Projects Via JV and Standalone Routes

Power major NTPC is planning to develop nuclear power projects both through joint ventures and on a standalone basis, CMD Gurdeep Singh has said.The company is collaborating with nuclear technology providers and state governments to explore individual nuclear projects, Singh added.Currently, the NTPC Group has an installed capacity of 82,926 MW across 53 NTPC-owned stations and 53 joint venture or subsidiary stations, drawing power from coal, liquid fuel, hydro, and solar sources.In December 2024, Singh had announced NTPC’s ambitious plan to enter the nuclear energy sector, a move expected t..