Becharaji: The Gujarat government has officially granted municipality status to Becharaji, also known as Bahucharaji, the temple town in Mehsana district of North Gujarat.

According to a notification issued by the Urban Development and Urban Housing Department, the state government, exercising powers under Article 243Q of the Constitution of India and the Gujarat Municipalities Act, 1963, has declared Bechar-Becharaji as a “Smaller Urban Area.”

With immediate effect from September 17, 2025, the area will function under the newly constituted “Bechar-Becharaji Municipality.”

The move comes in light of Bahucharaji’s growing importance as both a pilgrimage destination and an industrial hub, with major establishments like Suzuki and other companies in the vicinity. Earlier, local residents had opposed the proposal, demanding that Bahucharaji remain under the Gram Panchayat system. Villagers had even passed resolutions against the municipality status during Gram Sabha meetings. However, the state government has now concluded the process by issuing the official notification.

From today, Bechar-Becharaji Gram Panchayat will function as a municipality, marking a significant administrative shift for the region. The notification further clarifies that government-owned land within the jurisdiction of the municipality will not vest in the Bechar-Becharaji civic body. DeshGujarat