Gandhinagar
The Gujarat government on Thursday announced an allocation of Rs 100 crore to develop major pilgrimage centres in the state into green and power-safe zones, aiming to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply, improved electrical safety and greater use of clean energy.
According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the initiative will modernise power distribution infrastructure at pilgrimage sites to support tourism, temple operations and festival-related activities. Measures will include underground cabling, organised distribution systems and upgraded facilities to enhance both safety and aesthetics.
In the initial phase, the pilgrimage centres of Dwarka, Somnath, Ambaji and Palitana will be prioritised for development as Green and Power-Safe Zones. The government said the objective is to make these sites energy self-reliant while ensuring the safety of pilgrims.
The state will also provide solar subsidies for installing rooftop solar systems of up to 500 kW capacity on government and local authority buildings. Distribution reforms will focus on safer cabling, transformer upgrades and regular maintenance to improve reliability.
In the budget, the government announced the ‘Atal Wadi Yojana’, under which ‘Gaam ni Wadi’—well-equipped community halls—will be developed at the village level to host social, cultural and public events. The CMO said the scheme is aimed at strengthening village-level infrastructure and promoting community participation.
READ MORE: When Kalam, Ansari, Dilip Kumar prayed in the mosque as common Muslims
Additionally, the government has earmarked Rs 500 crore under the “Gujarat Wire Free City Mission” to convert overhead power networks into underground cable systems in municipal corporations and municipalities, citing rising electricity demand and the need for safe, high-quality power supply across the state.