Gujarat to have national institute for urban managers

The central government has sanctioned Rs50 crore to the Gujarat government for the setting up of a national institute to train people in urban development.

The Centre’s grant is perhaps in recognition of the fact that Gujarat leads among states in creating urban infrastructure and in its management.

The proposed institute will be known as Gujarat Urban Development Institute (GUDI) and will be based near Gandhinagar.

It will train manpower for civic bodies and carry out research in related areas. GUDI will also focus on technology and capacity-building in urban local bodies and start courses in urban development.

Apart from Gujarat, the Centre has chosen Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh for similar institutes. In Gujarat, the state
urban development department will be responsible for setting
up GUDI.

“It is going to be a national institute. The prime objective of GUDI will be capacity building, research in urban development, and training of staff of municipal corporations and municipalities,’’ said additional chief secretary, ports and transport department BK Sinha.

Sinha also heads the urban development department.  Sinha said GUDI is going to play a pivotal role in urban development by providing trained and skilled manpower at a time when the country is witnessing rapid urbanisation.