Gandhinagar, Jan 9, 2026: A recent typhoid outbreak in Gujarat’s capital, Gandhinagar, has exposed deep cracks in the city’s water and sewage infrastructure, raising serious concerns about urban planning, public health, and governance. Reports indicate leakages in at least 20 locations across the city, prompting authorities to investigate which of these contributed to the contamination that triggered the bacterial infection outbreak.

The Outbreak

Typhoid cases have been reported primarily from Sectors 24, 28, and the Adivada area. According to Rajeev Topno, Additional Chief Secretary for Health, as of January 5, 133 people had tested positive for typhoid. Of these, 45 patients had been discharged over the preceding two days, leaving approximately 88 active cases. Importantly, there have been no fatalities reported so far, and authorities note a downward trend in new infections.

In response to the outbreak, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel chaired a high-level meeting on January 6 to review the situation. He instructed officials from the municipal corporation and the state health department to intensify joint measures for patient treatment, disease control, and prevention.

Infrastructure Failures

Gandhinagar Municipal Commissioner JN Vaghela confirmed that the 20 identified leakage points have now been restored. However, the underlying issues are more complex. Many of the city’s water and sewage pipelines were laid 30–35 years ago and have been gradually upgraded over the past three years. Encroachments in sectors like 24 and Adivada have compounded the problem, with private water connections being laid near sewage lines, increasing the risk of contamination.

Two new water supply stations, at Charadi near Pethapur and Sarita Udhyan near Gandhinagar, were commissioned as part of a 24-hour water supply project. Water from these stations is being released in staggered volumes, gradually increasing pressure. While this has improved supply, it has also stressed weaker joints and newly connected pipelines, leading to additional leakages in several sectors.

An official involved in the project, speaking anonymously, said: “The increase in pressure, while necessary, has exposed vulnerabilities in older pipelines and recent connections. These weak points were more prone to leakage under the new system.”

Historical Context and Governance Issues

Urban planners note that the current crisis stems from long-standing gaps in Gandhinagar’s infrastructure planning. Designed in the 1960s and modeled on Chandigarh with sector-based planning, Gandhinagar has faced coordination challenges as the city expanded. Roads have been repeatedly dug up over the past three years for drainage, water pipelines, gas lines, and optical fiber cables, with each project managed by separate agencies, often without a unified plan.

A resident of Sector 23 described the situation: “A few months ago, our sector resembled a remote area after heavy rains, with mud and filth everywhere due to constant water leakage and repeated digging.”

The infrastructure concerns have intensified following the 24-hour water supply project and water metering initiatives. Previously, households received water for only a few hours each morning and evening. Now, although water is available throughout the day, residents report that it is sometimes unfit for drinking, necessitating boiling before consumption.

Administrative Changes and Fragmentation

The problems trace back to 2014, when Gandhinagar transitioned from management by the Capital Project team under the Roads and Buildings Department to becoming a municipal corporation. This shift fragmented responsibilities between departments, which residents say led to haphazard urban growth.

A retired government official, residing in Sector 24—one of the outbreak hotspots—said: “Earlier, water and sewage lines were installed with adequate separation. Post-2014, as the city expanded, there was no corresponding increase in infrastructure capacity. Contractors and corporators have reshaped the city in a piecemeal manner, resulting in today’s issues.”

Ongoing Modernization Efforts

Officials explained that the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation is gradually replacing old cement and ceramic sewage lines with PVC pipes. In several sectors, new connections have been laid close to water pipelines due to space constraints, creating additional contamination risks.

Despite ongoing efforts, the outbreak highlights the vulnerability of the city’s water system and its potential public health consequences.

National Oversight

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of the outbreak and directed the Gujarat Chief Secretary to submit a detailed report within two weeks, emphasizing the urgency of addressing both immediate public health concerns and systemic infrastructure deficiencies.

Broader Context

According to the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti’s 2024 report, only 47.3% of households in Gujarat received quality tap water, compared to the national average of 76%. In Gandhinagar specifically, only 31.9% of households had access to potable drinking water through tap connections, highlighting the city’s vulnerability despite being the state capital.

The recent typhoid outbreak serves as a stark reminder of the challenges older planned cities face in adapting to modern urban demands, especially when multiple agencies operate in silos. Experts argue that lack of coordinated underground infrastructure planning, combined with unplanned urbanization, increases the risk of contamination in water networks, even in cities built with modern designs.

Conclusion

While Gandhinagar continues to manage the outbreak with health department interventions and infrastructure repairs, the incident has unveiled systemic weaknesses in the city’s water and sewage network. Experts emphasize the need for comprehensive infrastructure audits, unified underground utility planning, and proactive maintenance to prevent future public health crises.

Residents, meanwhile, are cautiously optimistic but remain concerned about water safety, urging authorities to strengthen monitoring systems and ensure that water supply projects do not compromise potable water quality. The NHRC’s involvement adds additional pressure on the state to address both immediate and long-term infrastructural gaps to safeguard public health in Gandhinagar.