Gandhinagar: In its 2026–27 budget estimates for the Roads and Buildings Department, the Gujarat government has proposed the creation of a dedicated Land Acquisition Cell, alongside wide-ranging infrastructure modernisation and large-scale recruitment.

Among the most significant “new items” in the budget is the establishment of a separate Land Acquisition Cell, supported by specialised staff and a proposed allocation of ₹60 lakh.

The move is aimed at streamlining land procurement, reducing project delays, and strengthening coordination for road, bridge, and public building works across the state, an area that has traditionally slowed infrastructure rollout. Notably, the announcement comes at a time when DPR preparation and forest clearance work are underway for multiple packages of two major expressway projects in the state, the Namo Shakti Expressway and the Dwarka–Somnath Expressway along with work on 12 Garvi Gujarat High-Speed Corridors and other major road projects.

To operationalise the unit, the budget provides for six sanctioned posts, including one Deputy Secretary, one Section Officer, three Deputy Section Officers, and one Office Assistant. Allocations have also been made toward salaries, dearness allowance, house rent allowance, transport allowance, medical allowance, and other compensatory benefits.

Large-scale recruitment across the department

To reinforce this administrative restructuring, the government has proposed the creation of 1,223 new posts across multiple cadres in the Roads and Buildings Department, backed by a recurring allocation of ₹17.58 crore.

In addition:

• 438 new posts will support the opening of six divisional bridge offices in key centres, including Ahmedabad, Mehsana, Rajkot, Vadodara, and Surat, along with several district-level sub-divisional offices.

• 95 posts are proposed under the Chief Engineer (Mechanical) and associated circle offices.

• 64 posts are planned for the new Electrical Circle and sub-divisional offices in Gandhinagar.

• 43 positions will be added to the Office of the Chief Architect and Town Planner.

These measures collectively aim to strengthen administrative capacity and complement the functioning of the new Land Acquisition Cell.

Technology upgrades and asset modernisation

The budget also prioritises smart infrastructure and energy efficiency:

• ₹14 crore allocated for automation systems to save energy in government buildings.

• ₹4.25 crore earmarked for streetlight renovation and improvement in Gandhinagar city and other municipal areas.

• ₹54.81 crore set aside for the purchase of 122 new machinery units for construction and maintenance.

• ₹0.29 crore provided for two new vehicles for Superintending Engineer (Electrical) offices in Vadodara and Ahmedabad.

Public infrastructure and safety initiatives

Key capital works under the “new items” include:

• ₹182 crore for the reconstruction and strengthening of non-residential government buildings.

• ₹45.50 crore for AI-based Building Structural Health Monitoring Systems to enhance safety.

• Over ₹46 crore for new District Service Centres in the newly formed Tharad district and 17 Taluka Service Centres.

Overall, the 2026–27 Roads and Buildings budget signals a shift toward faster implementation, with the new Land Acquisition Cell positioned as the administrative backbone supporting expanded staffing, modern technology adoption, and large-scale public infrastructure development across Gujarat. DeshGujarat