With monsoon rains pounding Gujarat and exposing severe flaws in public infrastructure, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel delivered a stern message to his administrative officers: quality execution must come before quantity, and failure will no longer be tolerated.
Speaking at the &lsquo;Sampurnata Abhiyan Sanman Samaroh&rsquo; held at Mahatma Mandir on Tuesday, Patel&rsquo;s remarks came amid mounting public frustration over damaged roads, blocked drains, and the recent collapse of the Gambhira bridge, which has shaken public confidence in the state&rsquo;s infrastructure.
Though the event was organized to recognize the achievements of district collectors under the NITI Aayog&rsquo;s Aspirational Districts Programme, the Chief Minister used the platform to confront a deeper problem, the lack of durability and accountability in public works.
Addressing collectors from 13 districts, Patel congratulated officers from Narmada and Dahod, noting their 100% implementation of welfare schemes. But the focus quickly shifted.
&ldquo;Doing fewer things is acceptable,&rdquo; Patel said, &ldquo;but whatever is done must be of top quality.&rdquo; &ldquo;We cannot justify roads crumbling within months or bridges collapsing during the rains.&rdquo;
His remarks reflected growing discontent, both from citizens and within government circles. Patel emphasized that public complaints and media reports should not be dismissed, but seen as calls to act.
&ldquo;Once citizens get used to better services, any drop in quality becomes unacceptable to them. It is our responsibility to ensure that does not happen,&rdquo; he said.
Sources confirm that Patel has already taken a&nbsp;hardline stance behind closed doors, including a cabinet meeting last week where he pulled up senior bureaucrats over lapses in public works.
At a recent public event in Banaskantha, Patel appeared to take a subtle jab at the district administration, even as he extended birthday wishes to Collector Mihir Patel. From the stage, he remarked:
&ldquo;They do good work, but we don&rsquo;t know when they&rsquo;ll change their ways. The administration must serve the people first.&rdquo;
Observers saw it as a clear signal,&nbsp;no more excuses will be accepted.
A Vision for 2047 - With No Room for Complacency&nbsp;
Reiterating his vision of a &ldquo;Viksit Gujarat by 2047,&rdquo; Patel urged all departments to elevate standards and embrace accountability. He stressed that this goal would only be achieved if every officer, from top level IAS officers to on-ground engineers, committed to long-term quality, not short-term fixes.
&ldquo;This is not just about fixing roads,&rdquo; a senior legislator present at the event told reporters, &ldquo;It&rsquo;s about fixing the system that allowed them to break in the first place.&rdquo;
As Gujarat continues to grapple with the impact of heavy rains, the pressure is now on the administration to rebuild not only the roads and bridges, but also public trust.

Gujarat CM Warns Officials on Failing Infrastructure

After bridge collapse, CM Patel tells officers: Public won’t accept poor quality work

CM Patel Slams Poor Road Work Amid Monsoon Woes

After bridge collapse, CM Patel tells officers: Public won’t accept poor quality work

July 31, 2025 | 24:35 IST