Gandhinagar: The BJP has promised to turn Gandhinagar into a technology-driven, greener, sports-oriented city, with AI labs in municipal schools, smart roads, a modern sports complex, heritage tourism, and decentralised civic services as part of its five-year vision for Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation.The party’s Sankalp Patra for the 2026 civic election, announced on Thursday in the presence of deputy chief minister Harsh Sanghavi, proposes AI-based traffic signals and the development of several major roads as smart roads. These include Ch Road, Roads 2 and 3, and the Gh-7 Pethapur stretch. It also promised phased conversion of urban roads to concrete, modernisation of sector approach roads, and improved traffic facilities and safety on key routes.On education and technology, the manifesto promises AI labs and smart classrooms in municipal schools, with digital learning, STEM and robotics-based education. It also proposes a Namo Library, village libraries incorporated into the GMC, and a robotics-based sports facility. Data centre development has also been proposed to strengthen Gandhinagar’s digital infrastructure.Sports infrastructure figures prominently in the manifesto, with the BJP promising a modern sports complex in Gandhinagar for the Commonwealth Games, a cricket stadium at Randheja, and a sports complex at Pethapur. Separate gyms for women and modern training facilities for young athletes have also been proposed.The party has also promised a city centre and performing arts facility, a modern town hall, redevelopment of Meena Bazaar and upgrading of the Gh-5 open-air theatre. Its tourism proposals include a themed double-decker AC bus service under ‘Gandhinagar City Darshan’, development of Ambapur Vav as a heritage site, and a ‘Waste to Best’ wonder park.The manifesto proposes redeveloping the Sector-1 lake with a walkway, landscaping, and recreational facilities, along with theme-based plantation and greening of public spaces. For villages incorporated into the corporation, the BJP has promised urban-level roads, streetlights, drainage, water and other civic infrastructure.Voting will take place on Oct 11, and counting will be taken up on Oct 13. The BJP enjoys an overwhelming majority in the GMC. In the 2021 election, the BJP won 41 of 44 seats, the Congress won two, and AAP won one. Subsequently, both Congress councillors defected to the BJP.
