Ahmedabad: With Gujarat emerging as one of the country’s leading states in sustainable construction, the 3rd Green Gujarat Summit 2026, organised by the CII’s Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) in Ahmedabad, highlighted the role of sports infrastructure in shaping the state’s Net Zero and climate-resilient urban future.The summit, themed “Sports-Led Growth: Driving Gujarat’s Net Zero Future across Real Estate, Hospitality & Industry,” brought together policymakers, developers, architects, hospitality leaders, urban planners and sustainability experts to deliberate on integrating green principles into upcoming large-scale infrastructure projects.According to IGBC officials, Gujarat currently ranks fourth among India’s top green building states, with 1,574 registered green building projects covering more than 1.5 billion sq ft. The state has also achieved 750 certified green projects with over 1.07 billion sq ft of certified green built-up area. The green building movement has gained momentum across sectors, including 912 commercial projects, 516 residential projects, 115 industrial and logistics projects, along with transit infrastructure, built environment and Net Zero projects.Addressing the summit, M Thennarasan, principal secretary, urban development and urban housing department, said the state’s ambition to host global sporting events such as the 2036 Olympic Games presents a significant opportunity to transform its cities through sustainable infrastructure development.“Major sporting events across the world have accelerated investments in mobility, housing, hospitality and public infrastructure. We envision a similar transformation for Ahmedabad and Gujarat — one that is globally competitive, inclusive and future-ready,” he said.Taral Shah, chairman of IGBC Ahmedabad chapter, said sports-led development can create a multiplier effect across multiple sectors and must be planned with sustainability at its core.Former IGBC Ahmedabad chairman Sameer Sinha emphasised the need for resilient, low-carbon and future-ready urban ecosystems, stating that long-term urban growth must balance economic development with environmental responsibility.
