The Gujarat government is preparing to introduce major changes to its urban planning regulations that could significantly change how Paying Guest (PG) accommodations and preschools are developed across the state.
Under the proposed amendments to the Comprehensive General Development Control Regulations (CGDCR), new apartment buildings and commercial complexes will no longer be allowed to include PG facilities. Instead, PG accommodations will be permitted only as standalone developments under a clearly defined legal category.
The amendments also introduce dedicated construction rules for preschools for the first time and invite citizens to share their feedback before the rules are finalized.
Government Begins Process to Amend Planning Rules
The state’s Urban Development and Housing Department has initiated the process to amend the CGDCR, Gujarat’s primary urban planning rulebook.
Interestingly, the term “Paying Guest (PG)” has never officially appeared in Gujarat’s planning regulations. Although thousands of PG facilities have been operating for years, there was no specific legal definition or construction framework governing them.
On July 28, the department issued a public notification proposing amendments that formally recognize PG accommodations within the planning regulations. Citizens have been invited to submit their objections and suggestions until October 3 before the rules are finalized.
PGs to Be Allowed Only as Standalone Buildings
One of the biggest proposed changes is that PG facilities will no longer be permitted as part of mixed apartment-and-PG developments.
Instead, they will be regulated under the Dwelling-3 (DW3) category and approved only as independent standalone constructions.
This means developers planning new residential apartment schemes or commercial complexes will not be able to include PG accommodations within those projects.
The move aims to remove confusion surrounding the approval and operation of PG facilities while providing a clear legal framework.
First-Ever Rules Specifically for PG Accommodations
Officials say this is the first time since the CGDCR was introduced across Gujarat in 2017 that dedicated construction regulations for PG accommodations are being formally included.
A senior official said the amendments are intended to end years of uncertainty that resulted in disputes over approvals, enforcement actions and sealing drives, particularly in Ahmedabad. Until now, the 2017 CGDCR made no mention of PG accommodations.
Instead, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) relied on hostel and boarding house regulations while framing its PG 2025 guidelines, even though those rules never clearly defined what qualified as a PG facility.
According to an AMC official, this lack of legal clarity often created difficulties during enforcement.
Action Against Illegal PGs Highlighted Need for New Rules
The need for a clear legal framework became more apparent after civic authorities intensified action against unauthorized PG accommodations. According to official figures:
Around 401 PG units were identified across Ahmedabad in 2025.
385 PG units received notices for operating without required police and society No Objection Certificates (NOCs).
More than 25 PG facilities were sealed during 2025–26.
The issue gained political attention after a BJP Rajya Sabha Member raised concerns about illegal PG operations during an MP-MLA Coordination Committee meeting and demanded action against unauthorized establishments.
Following this, the AMC launched enforcement drives against non-compliant PG operators.
Officials believe the amended regulations will provide a stronger legal basis for future enforcement and reduce disputes over the validity of civic action.
New Construction Rules Introduced for Preschools
The proposed amendments also introduce a completely new category for preschools, named “Education-1.”
For the first time, the planning rules clearly specify where preschools can be built and the construction standards they must follow. According to the draft notification:
Preschools can be developed only on plots measuring between 200 and 1,000 square metres.
They must have a minimum built-up area of 50 square metres.
Buildings can have a maximum permissible height of 12 metres.
These specifications are intended to ensure that preschool buildings meet uniform planning and safety standards.
Preschools Allowed in Bungalow Schemes, Not Apartment Complexes
The draft regulations also specify where preschools may operate.
Preschools will be permitted within bungalow schemes located in residential areas.
However, they will not be allowed inside residential apartment schemes, marking another significant planning restriction under the proposed rules.
Previous Disputes Over Preschool Operations
Officials say these new provisions also address earlier legal disputes involving preschools.
About two years ago, the AMC sealed several preschools operating from residential units in Ahmedabad because of regulatory issues.
According to civic officials, those institutions were reopened only after their operators submitted undertakings agreeing to comply with applicable rules.
Officials believe the new legal framework will reduce such disputes in the future by clearly defining where preschools can legally function.
Changes Linked to Ahmedabad’s Future Development Plan
The current amendments are being introduced before the approval of Ahmedabad’s Development Plan 2041.
Officials noted that Gujarat first introduced a development plan-linked GDCR for Ahmedabad in December 2014, before expanding the unified CGDCR to cover urban areas across the state in 2017.
The latest amendments are intended to update those regulations to reflect changing urban development needs while providing clearer legal definitions for emerging land-use categories such as PG accommodations and preschools.
Key Numbers at a Glance
The proposed amendments are supported by several important figures:
401 PG units identified across Ahmedabad in 2025.
385 PG units served notices for missing police and society NOCs.
25+ PG facilities sealed during 2025–26.
15 hostel plan approvals granted in FY 2025–26, compared with 4–5 approvals annually in previous years.
200 sq m minimum plot size for preschools.
1,000 sq m maximum plot size for preschools.
50 sq m minimum built-up area required for preschool buildings.
12 metres maximum permissible building height for preschools.
October 3 is the deadline for citizens to submit objections and suggestions on the proposed amendments.
Public Feedback Invited Before Rules Are Finalised
The Gujarat government has opened the draft amendments for public consultation and will accept feedback until October 3.
Once finalized, the revised CGDCR is expected to provide a clear legal framework for both PG accommodations and preschools, replacing years of regulatory ambiguity with defined planning standards and construction rules across Gujarat.
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