The next edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC), focusing on Central Gujarat, will be held in Vadodara in the last week of June 2026, bringing together stakeholders from industry, government, and academia to highlight the region’s industrial strength, investment opportunities and tourism potential.

Covering 10 districts — Ahmedabad, Anand, Chhotaudepur, Dahod, Gandhinagar, Kheda, Mahisagar, Narmada, Panchmahal and Vadodara — Central Gujarat accounts for 28% of the state’s total manufacturing output, according to official data.

District-level data from the Annual Survey of Industries 2022-23 shows that the region contributes 93% of Gujarat’s total output in other transport equipment manufacturing, including railway locomotives, rolling stock, aircraft, spacecraft and two- and three-wheeled vehicles. It also contributes 92 per cent of the state’s auto and auto components output, 70% of beverages manufacturing, and 63 per cent each in pharmaceuticals and electrical equipment.

Around 62% of Gujarat’s total area falls under the influence zone of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), with two major projects in Central Gujarat, the 5,560-acre Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR) and the 2,849-acre Mandal-Becharaji Special Investment Region (MBSIR),  playing a key role in the corridor’s development.

Officials said each district in the region has developed specialised industrial strengths. Vadodara is led by chemicals and petrochemicals, accounting for 61 per cent of its manufacturing output, while Ahmedabad has strong presence in auto and auto components, textiles, basic metals and pharmaceuticals. Gandhinagar’s manufacturing is driven by food processing, basic metals and chemicals, while also emerging as a centre for electronics and financial technology through the presence of GIFT City.

Anand’s industrial base is centred on agro and dairy processing, while Panchmahal has a strong footprint in auto components, rubber and plastics, and pharmaceuticals. Kheda’s output is driven by rubber and plastics products and food processing, while Narmada, Chhotaudepur and Dahod are largely supported by agro and food processing industries.

In FY 2024-25, Central Gujarat recorded exports worth $20.54 billion, reaching more than 219 countries. Pharmaceuticals led the export basket at $3.67 billion, followed by nuclear reactors, boilers and machinery at $2.79 billion, electrical machinery and equipment at $1.79 billion, road vehicles and parts at $1.47 billion, and organic chemicals at $1.45 billion. The United States was the largest export destination, accounting for 23.8 per cent of total exports, followed by the UAE, Thailand, the UK and Saudi Arabia.

The upcoming conference will focus on sectors including semiconductors and electronics, IT and ITeS, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, aerospace and defence, fintech, auto and auto components, dairy and food processing, education, chemicals and petrochemicals, textiles and apparel, green energy, skill development, startups, MSMEs, and tourism and culture.

Tourism and culture will be a major theme of the conference, with emphasis on promoting heritage and eco-tourism destinations across the region. Key attractions include Sabarmati Ashram, Laxmi Vilas Palace, Swaminarayan Akshardham, Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, and Statue of Unity. Other tourism sites such as Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary and the Pavagadh Hill corridor are also expected to feature prominently.

The conference builds on the outcomes of the three previous VGRC editions. The inaugural North Gujarat edition in Mehsana in October 2025 saw the signing of 1,264 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) worth ₹3.25 lakh crore and attracted more than 29,000 registrations and over 440 international delegates from 80 countries.

The Kutch and Saurashtra edition held in Rajkot in January 2026 recorded 5,492 MoUs with proposed investments of ₹5.78 lakh crore and participation from around 400 international delegates representing 57 countries.

The most recent South Gujarat edition in Surat in May 2026 resulted in 2,792 MoUs worth ₹3.53 lakh crore and drew more than 20,000 registrations along with over 150 international delegates from 27 countries.

Published – May 23, 2026 05:33 am IST

Vadodara:

Believe it or not, a man in Gujarat has saved a snake by performing the life-saving technique known as Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). 

Yash Tadvi, a wildlife rescuer in Gujarat’s Vadodara, said he received a call on his helpline number about a snake being found dead in an area. Upon reaching the location, he said he saw the condition of the reptile, a one-foot non-venomous checkered keelback, and believed that it would survive.

“When I went there, the snake was in an unconscious state. There was no movement, but I was confident that the snake would survive,” Mr Tadvi said after the miraculous save, which was recorded on a phone. 

“So I took its neck in my hand, opened its mouth and tried to bring it back to consciousness by blowing into its mouth for three minutes. Even after giving CPR in the first two attempts, there was no change in its condition. However, when I gave CPR for the third time, it started moving,” he said.

The snake has now been handed over to the forest department.

With inputs from Mahendra Prasad

Image for representational purposes only.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

A teenage girl was allegedly raped by two unidentified persons, whose accomplice restrained her male friend, on a deserted stretch on the outskirts of Gujarat’s Vadodara city, police said on Saturday (October 5, 204).

The alleged crime was committed on a Navratri night when revellers come out in large numbers to participate in garba events organised throughout the city.

The survivor told the police that she had gone out to meet her childhood male friend at the city’s Laxmipura area at around 11 p.m., said Rohan Anand, Superintendent of Police – Vadodara (rural).

“They were returning through the Bhayli locality on a Scooty when at around midnight, five persons on two-wheelers intercepted them on an isolated road,” the police officer said.

Two of them left after some argument, while three others remained. Of these three, two individuals raped the teenage girl, while the third person restrained her male friend, he said.

“As soon as the culprits left, the teens informed the police. Cops reached the spot, cordoned off the area and collected evidence. Teams have been formed to identify the culprits using technical surveillance and other means,” Mr. Anand said.

The Gujarat government has lifted restrictions on garba celebration timings for this year’s Navratri festival.

In a similar crime, a 21-year-old woman was allegedly raped by three unidentified persons, who also tied her male friend using his clothes and belt and assaulted him, at an isolated place on the outskirts of Pune in Maharashtra on Thursday (October 3, 2024) night, police had said.

Vadodara:

As floodwaters begin to recede in Vadodara, a 30-year-old man was killed in Gujarat’s Dabhoi after a crocodile dragged him into the Orsang River.

An official said that the victim – Amit Poonambhai Vasava – was a labourer from Rajpura.

“Amit was attempting to set a fishing net when the crocodile attacked him and dragged him to the river,” the official said.

He added that despite efforts to escape, Amit slipped and the crocodile dragged him into the water.

Vadodara is known for its significant crocodile population – especially in the Vishwamitri River – which flows through the city.

The crocodile population of Vadodara is comprised mainly of the mugger crocodile, also known as the marsh crocodile (Crocodylus Palustris). These crocodiles have adapted to urban environments and can often be seen basking along the riverbanks or even within the city limits.

Meanwhile, at least 28 people have lost their lives due to floods.

Minister Rushikesh Patel said that over 5,000 people have been evacuated in Vadodara while 1,200 were rescued from the floods in the city.

On August 29, MLAs and corporators in Vadodara also faced the wrath of residents after they visited flood-affected areas.

“Many citizens expressed disappointment, accusing their representatives of failing to provide adequate support during the crisis. Some corporators ignored calls for help and their phones were switched off in some areas further exacerbating the public’s discontent,” a local said.

MLA Manisha Vakil had to leave the Harni area after people were outraged by his presence. Similarly, BJP corporator Bandish Shah from Ward No. 7 faced severe criticism from residents in the Salatwada area. The public was angry with the Raopura MLA Balu Shukla and city BJP president Vijay Shah, who were confronted by angry people during their visits to the affected areas.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Not just floods, Vadodara is also fighting crocodiles that have entered residential areas after the Vishwamitri river, which flows through the city, swelled following heavy rain in Gujarat. Several crocodiles, measuring 10 to 15 feet, have been spotted on the roads, parks, outside residences, and on the premises of a university after a swollen Vishwamitri river flooded several areas of the city.

One of the reptiles was even spotted on the roof of a house inundated due to rainfall.

A crocodile was spotted on the roof of a house in Gujarat’s #Vadodara as the state continues to reel from floods after extremely heavy rainfall.

The video of the incident has gone viral on social media. pic.twitter.com/YiQar38EXE

— Our Vadodara (@ourvadodara) August 29, 2024

#WATCH | Vadodara, Gujarat: Forest Department rescues the crocodile seen on the campus of the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda pic.twitter.com/joBQjJfAHW

— ANI (@ANI) August 29, 2024

An official on Thursday said they have rescued 10 crocodiles in the last five days.

“Two have been released and eight are still with us. We will release them when the water level of the river decreases,” he told the news agency ANI.

The Vishwamitri River, which has been overflowing and has flooded the city, is reportedly home to some 300 mugger crocodiles.

Its water level, however, has come down from its peak level of 37 feet – 12 feet above the danger mark – to 24 feet this morning.

This, however, is a common occurrence for those living in areas along the river’s banks as every monsoon season, crocodiles leave the safe confines of the river and enter residential areas of the city aided by flooded streets.

“While rescue of crocodiles from residential areas near the bank of Vishwamitri river continues throughout the year, the number rises significantly during monsoon,” the PTI news agency quoted Range Forest Officer (RFO) Karansinh Rajput as saying.

In June, four crocodiles were rescued and released back into the river, he said, adding the number rose sharply to 21 in July.

Gujarat Floods

Rain-related incidents have claimed at least 26 lives in Gujarat over the past five days. In a release, the State Emergency Operations Centre said as many as 1,785 people were rescued on Thursday while 13,183 people were shifted to safer places due to rainfall and waterlogging.

More than 50,000 people have so far been relocated and around 4,200 people rescued from flood-affected areas in the state so far, the statement said. In some cases, helicopters were used by the security forces to take people to safer locations.

Teams of the Indian Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), its state counterpart SDRF, and local administration are engaged in relief and rescue operations in the worst-affected districts of Vadodara, Dwarka, Jamnagar, Rajkot and Kutch.

(With agency inputs)