Public services lag, but babus stay cool as Sachivalaya plans ₹110 cr AC upgrade

The Gujarat government is set to spend ₹110 crore to install central air conditioning across all 14 blocks of the state Secretariat in Gandhinagar, a move aimed at improving the efficiency of government employees amid rising temperatures. The project follows recommendations from the Gujarat Administrative Reforms Commission (GARC), which cited climate change and its impact on employee health and productivity.

According to officials, the decision to implement central air conditioning was made to create a more conducive working environment for government staff. The GARC’s report noted that extreme heat is adversely affecting the performance of officials and has recommended temperature-controlled environments to support efficient functioning.

The proposed upgrade comes at a time when the state’s administrative machinery faces criticism for slow processing times and mounting backlogs. Despite prior efforts at bureaucratic reform, many departments remain burdened with pending files, and citizens continue to report delays and procedural hurdles at the Secretariat.

The Gujarat State Employees Union has also submitted a demand to the government seeking a five-day workweek with Saturdays and Sundays as holidays, citing employee welfare. However, concerns remain about whether infrastructural upgrades alone will lead to tangible improvements in public service delivery.

Critics have pointed out that the Secretariat revamp is being undertaken at a time when over one crore people in Gujarat still live below the poverty line. In rural areas, daily per capita expenditure often falls below ₹26. Many citizens continue to rely on government-provided food grains, while youth unemployment and homelessness persist in significant numbers.

While the government maintains that the Secretariat overhaul is a step toward modernising governance and boosting staff productivity, questions remain about prioritisation and the use of public funds. Whether air-conditioning government offices will translate into more responsive governance remains to be seen.

The state has not issued a timeline for the completion of the air-conditioning installation, though budgetary allocations have reportedly been made.