Gujarat Govt Approves 17 New Talukas to Strengthen Local Governance

In a significant administrative reform, the Gujarat government has approved the formation of 17 new talukas, increasing the total number of talukas in the state to 265. The decision was made during a state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday. The move aims to strengthen grassroots governance, bring public services closer to citizens, and improve overall administrative efficiency.

According to the government, the formation of new talukas is a strategic step to make governance more people-centric. By reorganizing existing talukas and creating smaller administrative units, the state aims to reduce the distance citizens must travel for official work. This is expected to save both time and effort, especially for residents in remote and tribal areas.

The newly created talukas are spread across various districts, including Mehsana, Panchmahal, Narmada, Valsad, Banaskantha, Dahod, Chhota Udepur, Kheda, Aravalli, Bhavnagar, Tapi, and Surat. For instance, the new taluka of Ghodar has been carved out of the Santrampur and Shehra talukas in Mehsana, while Ukai has been formed from the existing Songadh taluka in Tapi district.

In Banaskantha district alone, four new talukas have been announced: Rah (from Tharad), Dharnidhar (from Vav), Ogal (from Kankrej), and Hadad (from Danta). Similarly, new talukas like Kadwal in Chhota Udepur, Fagvel in Kheda, Shamlaji in Aravalli, and Ambika in Surat have also been established to enhance administrative reach.

Here is a summary of the newly formed talukas along with their parent talukas:

• Rah (from Tharad)
• Ukai (from Songadh)
• Areth (from Mandvi)
• Ambika (from Mahuva)
• Ogal (from Kankrej)
• Dharnidhar (from Vav)
• Govind Guru Limdi (from Jhalod)
• Kadwal (from Jetpur Pavi)
• Fagvel (from Kapadvanj and Kathlal)
• Shamlaji (from Biloda)
• Sathamba (from Bayad)
• Godhar (from Santrampur and Shehra)
• Kothamba (from Lunawada)
• Chikda (from Dediapada)
• Nanapondha (from Vapi Rural, Kaprada, and Pardi)
• Hadad (from Danta)
• Sukhsar (from Fatepura)

Each new taluka will have its own administrative headquarters, ensuring that basic government services and offices are available locally. This decentralization is expected to facilitate better governance and spur development in previously underserved areas.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel emphasized that the creation of these talukas is aligned with the state’s vision of inclusive development and efficient governance. Citizens can expect smoother delivery of services, faster resolution of grievances, and improved access to welfare schemes as a result of this restructuring.

The government is expected to begin implementing the new administrative framework in phases, with further details on office setups and staffing to be announced soon.