Gandhinagar, October 8 (Daily Kiran) : Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated a two-day retreat in Gandhinagar, focusing on enhancing the quality and connectivity of Gujarat’s infrastructure. He emphasized the importance of collective brainstorming to ensure that the state’s road networks and facilities not only maintain their high standards but also grow more prestigious in the future.
The retreat, themed “Speed, Quality, and Pride: Accelerating Infrastructure for Developed Gujarat 2047,” brought together officials ranging from work assistants to secretaries. Patel recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated this tradition of retreats in 2003, highlighting the significance of collaboration in achieving success.
Patel praised the spirit of “I am not, we are” and the motto of “self-reliance” as vital to the ongoing success of these retreats. He identified the Roads and Buildings Department as crucial, noting that the public appreciates the quality of roads, bridges, and connectivity infrastructure. Conversely, he acknowledged that any shortcomings would face immediate criticism, making vigilance in quality assurance imperative.
He stated that while unintentional mistakes can be rectified, deliberate errors or oversights cannot be forgiven. Patel urged officials to pay close attention to the tender process and ensure that projects adhere to standard operating procedures and timelines.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the role of self-reflection in personal improvement, encouraging all participants to consider this aspect seriously. He reaffirmed Gujarat’s commitment to being a leader in realizing Prime Minister Modi‘s vision of a “Developed India by 2047.”
Patel called on attendees to work collectively towards sustainable development that emphasizes speed, quality, and pride, reinforcing Gujarat’s status as a national role model.
During the retreat’s opening, he released several publications, including “Building Health Monitoring” and “Bridge Asset Management,” and honored engineers and officials for outstanding performances according to the Governance Performance Index.
The Roads and Buildings Department is responsible for a vast network of 129,000 kilometers of roads, over 11,000 bridges, and the maintenance of various government buildings. Their efforts extend to covering more than 18,000 villages and 14,000 settlements through the Chief Minister’s Village Road Scheme.
Chief Secretary M.K. Das commended the department for its pivotal role in state development and its rapid response capabilities during emergencies. He also referenced historical figures and projects that underscore the enduring significance of road infrastructure in public service.
Das outlined that the department’s budget has surged from ₹12,000 crores to ₹30,000 crores in a short period. To achieve the goal of a $3.5 trillion economy in the next two decades, the state must undertake 11 times the construction work compared to previous centuries. He stressed the need for roads to be fast, durable, and of high quality to address future traffic challenges.
He encouraged adopting a “from the ground up” approach, increasing on-ground presence, and ensuring contractors deliver quality work. All participants were urged to think freely, regardless of their positions, to develop a clear action plan for 2047.
Secretary P.R. Patel presented the retreat’s agenda, which aims to transcend regular departmental tasks and foster discussions on new ideas and technologies to achieve the goal of “Developed Gujarat 2047: Fast, Safe, and Sustainable Infrastructure.”
To enhance transparency and efficiency, several significant decisions and new initiatives were announced, including the implementation of a Governance Performance Index for officials and a performance-based rating system for contractors. Additionally, the timeline for tender approvals has been reduced to facilitate quicker execution.
Before the inaugural ceremony, keynote speaker and Akshaya Patra Foundation Vice President, Saint Rayaram Das, provided guidance to all participants. The event was attended by various officials from the Roads and Buildings Department, including Water Resources Secretary P.C. Vyas and Special Secretary J.A. Gandhi.
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