Overview
Gandhinagar is the capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Located on the west bank of the Sabarmati river, it was developed as a planned city in the 1960s following the bifurcation of Bombay State, and was named after Mahatma Gandhi, who was born in Gujarat. The city lies about 23 kilometres north of Ahmedabad, the state's largest urban centre, and the two together form a major metropolitan region in western India.
Key Facts
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Gujarat |
| Status | State capital |
| District | Gandhinagar |
| Named after | Mahatma Gandhi |
| Location | Banks of the Sabarmati river |
| Nearest major city | Ahmedabad |
| Official language | Gujarati |
| Local body | Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation |
Background
When the bilingual Bombay State was reorganised on linguistic lines in 1960, the Marathi-speaking areas formed Maharashtra and the Gujarati-speaking areas formed the new state of Gujarat. Ahmedabad initially served as the temporary capital. The Government of Gujarat decided to build a new, purpose-built capital so as not to overburden Ahmedabad and to create an administrative city in keeping with the planning ideals of the period.
The site chosen lay on the banks of the Sabarmati, on relatively level land. The master plan for Gandhinagar was prepared by Indian planners Prakash M. Apte and H. K. Mewada, both of whom had earlier worked on the Chandigarh project under Le Corbusier. While Chandigarh inspired aspects of the layout, Gandhinagar was conceived with an emphasis on green cover, low-rise development, and a grid of self-contained sectors.
Urban Plan
The city is divided into numbered sectors, each designed as a residential and civic unit with its own shopping centre, schools, health facilities, and open spaces. The road network follows a rectangular grid, with major roads running broadly north–south and east–west. Sector 10 contains the principal government complex, including the Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly), Sachivalaya (Secretariat), and the Raj Bhavan.
Gandhinagar is noted for its extensive tree cover, public gardens, and a comparatively low population density relative to other Indian state capitals.
Timeline
- 1960: Formation of Gujarat state; decision taken to build a new capital.
- 1965–66: Master plan finalised; construction begins on the new city site near Ahmedabad.
- 1970: The capital is formally shifted from Ahmedabad to Gandhinagar.
- Subsequent decades: Expansion of government complexes, educational institutions, and residential sectors.
Government and Administration
Gandhinagar houses the principal organs of the Gujarat state government: the Legislative Assembly, the Secretariat, the High Court bench locations associated with the state administration, and the official residences of the Governor and Chief Minister. The city is administered locally by the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation and is the headquarters of Gandhinagar district. It is also a Lok Sabha parliamentary constituency, which has historically been represented by senior national political figures, including L. K. Advani and Amit Shah.
Economy and Institutions
While government employment forms the backbone of the local economy, Gandhinagar is also home to several institutions of national importance:
- Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City): A planned international financial and technology hub developed on the outskirts, hosting India's first International Financial Services Centre (IFSC).
- Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IIT Gandhinagar): One of the IITs established in 2008.
- National Forensic Sciences University: An institution of national importance focused on forensic science and allied fields.
- Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology (DA-IICT): An autonomous institute focusing on ICT.
- Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU): Specialising in energy and engineering studies.
- National Institute of Design (NID), Gandhinagar campus.
- Gujarat National Law University (GNLU): One of India's national law universities.