Ahmedabad: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is set to significantly expand its presence and operational capacity in Gujarat, with the state government allotting nearly three-and-a-half acres of land for a new high-security headquarters near Chharodi Lake along SG Highway in Ahmedabad.

The new headquarters is expected to strengthen the agency’s investigative and intelligence capabilities in the state, with officials indicating that project planning is already underway. Formalities related to the building design, security infrastructure, and administrative framework are likely to be completed within the next two months.

Once operational, the facility is expected to expand the NIA’s existing 51-member Gujarat team and provide access to advanced surveillance systems, digital intelligence tools, and high-security investigation infrastructure.

Security experts believe the establishment of a dedicated NIA campus reflects the Centre’s growing focus on Gujarat as a strategically sensitive operational zone amid an increasing number of investigations linked to terrorism and international drug syndicates.

At present, the NIA office in Gujarat functions from a shared government facility, which sources said poses logistical and security challenges. The existing setup reportedly lacks dedicated infrastructure for confidential interrogations and digital investigations, while the growing workforce has also led to acute space constraints. The movement of sensitive documents and accused individuals within a shared building has further heightened security concerns.

The upcoming headquarters is expected to house several specialised facilities, including an Intelligence Unit, Digital Forensic Laboratory, High-Security Record Room, Interrogation Block, and Surveillance Control Unit.

In recent years, Gujarat has increasingly emerged as a key focus area for central security agencies due to its extensive coastline, ports, and international trade connectivity, factors that have made the state vulnerable to drug trafficking networks, terror modules, and transnational criminal syndicates. DeshGujarat