Gujarat Merges Taluka Planning Bodies Into Single Committee To Speed Up Development

The Gujarat government has merged two major taluka-level planning bodies into a single 18-member Unified Taluka Planning Committee (UTPC) to streamline decentralised development planning and speed up the implementation of welfare schemes and infrastructure projects in rural areas. The decision, announced on Saturday, aims to reduce administrative delays, eliminate duplication of work and improve coordination between various departments involved in local development.

The move follows recommendations made by the Gujarat Administrative Reforms Commission (GARC) in its Fourth Report submitted in August 2025. The new committee will replace the existing Taluka Planning Committee and the Aapno Taluko–Vibrant Taluko (ATVT) Taluka Executive Planning Committees under the Decentralised District Planning Programme. The state government said the restructuring was carried out after identifying challenges caused by multiple committees handling similar responsibilities.

According to officials, the GARC found that separate taluka-level committees, including the Taluka Planning Committee, ATVT Executive Planning Committee and Taluka Panchayat Planning Committee, often dealt with overlapping functions. This resulted in repeated discussions, duplication of administrative work and delays in approving and executing development projects. The commission recommended creating a single unified body to ensure smoother decision-making and better utilisation of resources.

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Under the new system, each taluka will have a Unified Taluka Planning Committee responsible for identifying local development priorities, preparing integrated plans and monitoring the progress of projects under the Decentralised District Planning Programme. The committee will focus on key sectors such as education, healthcare, drinking water, roads, agriculture, irrigation and rural development, ensuring that development initiatives are aligned with local requirements.

The 18-member UTPC will be headed by the President of the Taluka Panchayat as chairperson, while the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) will serve as co-chairperson and the Taluka Development Officer (TDO) will function as member secretary. The committee will include local MPs, MLAs, District Panchayat representatives, Social Justice Committee chairpersons and officials from departments including health, education, irrigation, roads and agriculture. The Gujarat government said the unified structure will improve transparency, accountability and monitoring while enabling faster implementation of development programmes at the grassroots level.

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