Gandhinagar/Ahmedabad: The Gujarat government has moved to translate the state’s hosting commitment for the 2030 Commonwealth Games into budgetary and institutional action, allocating a total of ₹301 crore and establishing a dedicated body to oversee planning and delivery, officials said on Thursday.
Financial package and institutional vehicle
Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, who holds the Sports and Youth Services portfolio, provided the details in a written reply during Question Hour in the state assembly. The package includes a ₹200 crore payment recorded as the host fee under the Host Collaboration Agreement (HCA), along with other budget provisions.
According to the reply, the state placed ₹100 crore under the revenue head over the last year for organising the Games and kept ₹1 crore as a token provision under the capital head. Together with the host fee, these sum to the total allocation of ₹301 crore.
"Gujarat had been awarded the hosting rights for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the state had signed the Host Collaboration Agreement (HCA) and paid the host fee," Sanghavi said in the written response.
The government has also constituted a Section 8 company, "Amdavad 2030 Commonwealth Games Organisation", through a government resolution dated 12 August 2026. The entity has been tasked with planning and management of the multi-sport event, signalling a move to ring-fence operational responsibilities from routine administrative structures.
Preparations and stakeholder consultations
The written reply noted that preparatory work has begun, including consultations with Commonwealth Sport, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and relevant international federations. The state said necessary action has been initiated for organising sporting events, managing venues and making other arrangements, though the reply provided no detailed timeline for venue upgrades or construction.
- Allocation breakdown: host fee (₹200 crore); revenue head (₹100 crore); capital head (₹1 crore).
- Institutional step: formation of a Section 8 company to plan and manage the Games.
- Engagement: consultations reported with Commonwealth Sport, IOA and international federations.
Budget table
| Head | Amount |
|---|---|
| Host fee (HCA) | ₹200 crore |
| Revenue head (organising) | ₹100 crore |
| Capital head (token provision) | ₹1 crore |
| Total | ₹301 crore |
Implications for Gujarat
The early allocation and the creation of a specialised company indicate an effort by the state to institutionalise delivery and signal commitment to international partners. For Ahmedabad — identified as the centre of preparations — the Games present opportunities for tourism, construction, hospitality and allied services if planning and execution proceed as intended.
However, several practical questions remain unanswered in the written reply: specific venue plans, procurement norms, timelines for infrastructure works and how costs beyond the initial allocation will be financed. Multi-sport events typically require substantial investment in stadia, transport and accommodation; the initial ₹301 crore appears to cover the host fee and early organisational expenses rather than large-scale capital projects.
Opposition members had pressed the state for details. Congress MLA Amit Chavda had sought information about the government’s preparations, prompting the written response from Sanghavi.
Next steps and oversight
The newly formed Section 8 organisation will likely become the nodal agency for coordination with Commonwealth Sport, the IOA and international federations. Its legal form enables it to operate as a not-for-profit company under the Companies Act, 2013; the government resolution setting it up was issued on 12 August 2026.
As preparations proceed, the state will be expected to disclose more detailed project reports, funding plans and governance safeguards. Municipal authorities in Ahmedabad, transport agencies and private sector partners in hospitality and construction will be key stakeholders in operationalising the Games’ infrastructure and services.
For now, the financial and institutional framework has been set in motion, marking the start of Gujarat’s public-facing preparations to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
