Gandhinagar: The 11th Regional Conclave of the GRIHA Council, India’s premier green building rating and sustainability assessment body, was successfully convened at The Leela, Gandhinagar, under the theme “Innovate to Act for a Climate Resilient World.” The event brought together policymakers, urban planners, architects, developers, industry leaders, academicians, and sustainability experts to deliberate on actionable solutions for climate-responsive infrastructure development in Gujarat.
The conclave highlighted Gujarat’s growing role as a national leader in balancing rapid economic growth with environmental responsibility. Discussions focused on sustainable urbanisation, low-carbon infrastructure, green building standards, and climate-resilient development models aligned with the state’s ambitious infrastructure roadmap.
The conclave was inaugurated by Shri Pravin Gordhanji Mali, Hon’ble Minister of State for Forests & Environment, Climate Change and Transport, Government of Gujarat. Addressing the gathering, he emphasised that sustainability must remain the foundation of long-term growth and governance in Gujarat. He also called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to accelerate climate-conscious infrastructure initiatives.
Delivering the keynote address, Shri J. A. Gandhi (I.C.), Special Secretary, Roads & Buildings Department, Government of Gujarat, reiterated the state government’s focus on green construction practices. He noted that all non-residential buildings at district and taluka levels approved through the Roads & Buildings Department are being developed as green buildings, while equal importance is being placed on maintenance and operational sustainability.
A major highlight of the conclave was the discussion around Gujarat’s mega development initiatives, including preparations for the Commonwealth Games 2030, GIFT City, Dholera Special Investment Region, the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, port expansion projects, and highway infrastructure development. Experts stressed the need to integrate sustainability, energy efficiency, and universal accessibility into every stage of planning and execution.
During the inaugural session, two key Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed — one between GRIHA Council and Carbon Registry India by NCCF, and another between GRIHA Council and CREDAI Ahmedabad GIHED. The partnerships aim to strengthen carbon accounting mechanisms and promote wider adoption of green-certified real estate developments across Gujarat.
Mr. Rajesh Vaswani, Chairman of CREDAI Ahmedabad GIHED, stated that the collaboration would encourage awareness initiatives, industry training programmes, and sustainable urban development practices to position Ahmedabad as a benchmark city for green infrastructure in India.
Speaking at the conclave, Mr. Sanjay Seth, Vice President & CEO of GRIHA Council, highlighted Gujarat’s emergence as a future-ready growth engine where sustainability and economic ambitions coexist. He underlined the importance of inclusive and practical solutions to build resilient communities capable of addressing climate challenges effectively.
The event concluded with the GRIHA Felicitation Ceremony recognising 4-star and 5-star rated green projects for their contribution to sustainable construction practices in the region. Additionally, three Gujarati-language publications focusing on sustainable design implementation, construction management, and operations & maintenance were launched to expand awareness among regional stakeholders.
The Gandhinagar conclave forms part of a nationwide series of regional sustainability dialogues leading up to the 18th GRIHA Summit scheduled to be held in New Delhi on November 3-4, 2026.