Gujarat Repeals Outdated Civil Engineers Act

Created By: Shivalik Institute of Real Estate
 

On February 24, 2025, Gujarat Legislative Assembly has abolished the Gujarat Professional Civil Engineers Act, 2006 (GPCE Act-19, 2006), as it felt that the act was unnecessary and out of place in the new regulatory landscape. The move is under the Comprehensive General Development Control Regulations, 2017 (CGDCR-2017), passed for implementing uniformity and enhancing the quality of construction in the state
 

Why was the GPCE Act-19, 2006 repealed?
 

The GPCE Act-19, 2006 was first enacted in response to the devastating 2001 Gujarat earthquake, which was urging the need for stricter controls in an attempt to offer safer building designs. The act sought to:
 

• Regulate the registration of professional civil engineers.
• Offend unqualified individuals from performing structural design and construction activities.
• Improve construction quality and safety.
   

But, as Cooperation Minister Jagdish Vishwakarma explained in the Legislative Assembly, the GPCE Act-19, 2006 lacked a comprehensive system of enforcement. It had professional engineer registration but no adequate guidelines for construction safety, clearances, and planning.
 

With the implementation of CGDCR-2017, which is a more organized and streamlined system, the previous act became outdated, and therefore it was repealed.
 

What Makes CGDCR-2017 More Effective?
 

The CGDCR-2017 has some significant advancements compared to the GPCE Act-19, 2006
 

1. Enhanced Registration Categories:
 

The earlier act had two types of registration only:
 

• Civil Engineering (General)
• Civil Engineering (Structural Design)
   

The CGDCR-2017, on the other hand, includes 7 branches of registration with 11 different grades, making it inclusive and all-encompassing.
 

2. Creation of a High-Rise Buildings Committee
 

In high-rise buildings above 45 meters, CGDCR-2017 requires third-party structural safety inspection report. Meeting stringent safety norms for risk mitigation. These features were absent in the GPCE Act-19, 2006.
 

3. Discerning Focus on Safety and Performance Improvement
 

The regulations detail building processes, planning norms, and structural safety features. CGDCR2017 is more stringent with quality checks and conformity audits, unlike the previous act, which was interested in the registration alone.
 

4. Strengthened Provisions for Enforcement
 

Though the GPCE Act-19, 2006 gave only a system of registration, CGDCR-2017 offers registration along with enforcement provisions. This will ensure that professionals get registered and are subject to stern rules, and the possibilities of poor construction will be minimized.
 

Implications of This Change
 

The new system identifies different specializations and provides for effective enforcement, thus becoming more systematic and dependable for professional civil engineers. CGDCR-2017's streamlined process will ensure transparency in clearances and regulatory compliance, facilitating project implementation at ease for developers. It has also Improved standards of safety and thirdparty inspection ensure minimal risk from structurally hazardous buildings.
 

Repeal of Gujarat Professional Civil Engineers Act, 2006, and the passage of CGDCR-2017 is a big step in the direction of modernizing Gujarat law of construction and urban development. For Builders & Developers: CGDCR-2017's simplified procedure will guarantee transparency in approvals and compliance, enabling smooth conduct of projects.