Gandhinagar: The Gujarat government has set up the Gujarat High Speed Rail Station Area Planning Authority to facilitate integrated and holistic development around the eight stations of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor. Officials said the new authority will function as the single nodal body for land-use planning and infrastructure development around the stations, a major policy move aimed at maximising the economic benefits of India’s first bullet train project.

The decision, issued under Section 23(1)(x) of the Gujarat Town Planning and Urban Development Act, 1976, follows months of consultations to ensure coordinated development in Sabarmati, Ahmedabad, Nadiad, Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Bilimora and Vapi. The authority will include senior officials and will be chaired by the Principal Secretary of the State Urban Development Department.

According to officials, the body will prepare detailed development plans for each station zone, while existing local urban development authorities will be responsible for on-ground implementation. The framework is expected to streamline planning efforts and prevent fragmented or conflicting growth patterns around the high-speed rail network.

The government added that the new authority will play a key role in driving sustainable, transit-oriented development along the bullet train route. DeshGujarat