Gujarat is embarking on an ambitious plan to develop five satellite towns by 2030, aiming to ease the pressure on its major cities. The initiative, spearheaded by the state government, involves developing Sanand (near Ahmedabad), Savli (near Vadodara), Kalol (near Gandhinagar), Bardoli (near Surat), and Hirasar (near Rajkot) into self-sufficient urban centers.

The government has already begun the process by inviting urban planners to prepare master plans for these towns and initiating the appointment of planners through tenders. The goal is to equip these satellite towns with metro-like facilities and a robust economic base, effectively reducing the strain on larger cities. A consultant is expected to be appointed within the next two months to develop and finalize the master plans within one year.

Satellite towns are envisioned as urban centers located within an hour's reach of a major city. These towns will offer new employment opportunities, world-class infrastructure, and citizen-centric facilities. The development aligns with the state's "Earning Well–Living Well" urban development approach.

The proposed infrastructure for these satellite towns includes state-of-the-art amenities, well-organized public transportation systems featuring electric bus services, advanced water supply and waste management systems, ring roads, urban forest parks, scenic lakes, model fire stations, and mixed-use infrastructure with offices, homes and shops. An approval and monitoring committee will supervise the execution to ensure the facilities are implemented in a timely manner.

This strategic development of Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of strengthening smaller urban centers and Gujarat's vision of a Developed India by 2047. By promoting balanced urbanization, generating local employment, and easing infrastructure stress on major cities, the government aims to create economically vibrant centers with integrated planning for transport, industry, tourism, education, and healthcare.