DH NEWS SERVICE
jammu, Sept 23
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday laid the foundation stone and inaugurated various development works of the Kalol Municipality in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, at a total cost of Rs 144 crore.
Speaking on the occasion, Shah said that Kalol has witnessed unprecedented development over the past five to six years.
He added that the town still holds immense potential for further growth, with several projects already underway.
Five schemes worth approximately Rs 53 crore were inaugurated, including a ?35-crore water treatment plant, the ?11-crore construction of Jyoteshwar Lake, and a night shelter.
Additionally, sanitation equipment and various borewell projects have been completed and formally dedicated today, according to a press release issued by the ministry.
Furthermore, other initiatives worth Rs 91 crore have been launched under the ‘Swarnim Jayanti Mukhyamantri Vikas Yojana’.
Shah noted that a coordinated plan involving both rural and urban areas aims to transform Kalol into a model assembly constituency by 2029.
“The Government of India has already begun construction of a 350-bed hospital with state-of-the-art facilities in Kalol,” he said.
The hospital is expected to be inaugurated by 2027, after which residents will no longer need to travel elsewhere for quality healthcare.
The facility will integrate services from the Primary Health Center (PHC) and Community Health Center (CHC), with doctors available for outpatient services. It will feature world-class equipment and top-tier medical staff.
Its pathology lab is expected to surpass even that of Ahmedabad’s Civil Hospital. Free treatment worth up to ?10 lakh will be provided under the Ayushman Bharat scheme and Gujarat government health cards.
The Home Minister also commended Kalol’s progress under the Jal Jeevan Mission, gas cylinder distribution program, and household toilet construction.
He announced that the maintenance of Jyoteshwar Lake will now be managed by a private firm, and the area will soon feature children’s play equipment, boating facilities, and hygienic food stalls.
Shah further stated that the Prime Minister has reduced GST on essential food items to zero and slashed taxes on agricultural products by over 50%, offering significant relief to the public.
Taxes on vehicles such as scooters, motorcycles, and cars have also been reduced. A cut in coal taxes is expected to bring down electricity bills across the region
