Ahmedabad Unveils Ambitious Rs 17,018 Crore Draft Budget with Infrastructure and Sustainability at Its Core
In a significant move aimed at transforming urban mobility and preparing for global events, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has presented a draft budget of Rs 17,018 crore for the fiscal year 2026-27. Presented by Municipal Commissioner Banchha Nidhi Pani on Wednesday, this budget marks a strategic shift towards capital-intensive projects, with a notable increase of Rs 3,017 crore over the previous year's draft budget of Rs 14,001 crore. Notably, property taxes and other levies remain unchanged, reflecting a focus on infrastructure investment rather than revenue hikes.
Capital Expenditure Takes Center Stage
The budget allocates Rs 9,868 crore for capital expenditure, significantly higher than the revenue expenditure of Rs 7,150 crore. This emphasis on capital spending is designed to tackle chronic traffic bottlenecks and enhance urban connectivity, positioning Ahmedabad as a futuristic city. The draft comes at a pivotal time, as it is the first AMC budget since Ahmedabad was announced as the host city for the 2030 Commonwealth Games, adding urgency to infrastructure upgrades.
Major Infrastructure Projects to Ease Traffic Congestion
To address the city's persistent traffic issues, the budget proposes several high-impact projects. A substantial allocation of Rs 1,000 crore is earmarked for two elevated corridors: a 3-km stretch from Nehrunagar Circle to Iskcon Bridge and a 3.5-km corridor from Bopal Vakil Saheb Bridge to Ghuma village. Additionally, the road from Isro to Iskcon is set to be widened to 40 metres, improving flow in key areas.
In a bid to eliminate railway crossings within the city, five railway overbridges have been proposed with a combined allocation of Rs 425 crore. These include a flyover-cum-railway overbridge at Sanand Junction on SG Highway, and overbridges at Geratpur, Maninagar, Punit Nagar, and Vatva Vinzol railway crossings.
New Flyovers and Underpasses for Enhanced Connectivity
The budget also outlines three new flyovers to further decongest traffic hotspots. These include a flyover at Memco Junction with an estimated cost of Rs 70 crore, another at Bhakti Circle Junction in Kathwada for Rs 80 crore, and a third at Silver Star Junction in Chandlodia for Rs 75 crore.
For improved underpass infrastructure, Rs 20 crore is allocated for a restricted height underpass beneath the Ahmedabad-Viramgam railway line in front of Jaladhara Society in Bopal, while Rs 30 crore is proposed for a similar underpass near the Shreyas railway overbridge from Popatlal Dani Garden towards Ayojan Nagar. An additional Rs 30 crore is set aside for underpasses connecting the Sabarmati Riverfront through Cantonment premises to Airport Circle, along a road widening project from 24 metres to 36 metres.
Future-Proofing with Feasibility Studies and Bridge Development
Looking ahead, the AMC has allocated Rs 1 crore for feasibility studies at five strategic locations. These studies will explore potential projects such as a river bridge over the Sabarmati from Hansol to Koteshwar, elevated corridors from Dariapur Darwaza to Delhi Darwaza Junction via Shahpur, and from Prernatirth Derasar in Jodhpur ward to Mansi Circle, among others. Furthermore, Rs 25 crore is earmarked for the development of space beneath 11 bridges and river bridges, including the Sattadhar and Income Tax flyovers.
Commonwealth Games Preparation and Sports Infrastructure
With the 2030 Commonwealth Games on the horizon, the budget integrates sports infrastructure development. A Commonwealth Readiness Cell will be established with an allocation of Rs 100 crore, while 35 new playgrounds are proposed across the city. The AMC sports volunteer programme receives Rs 10 crore, and Rs 211.88 crore is set aside for constructing six sports complexes and five mini sports complexes, aiming to have at least one sports complex in each zone.
Emphasis on Climate Resilience and Sustainability
A major highlight of this budget is its focus on climate resilience, with a historic Rs 8,247 crore—84% of the total capital budget—allocated to climate-resilient projects. This underscores a long-term commitment to sustainability as Ahmedabad prepares for rapid growth and its global sporting commitments. The budget aligns with a vision of a sustainable, adaptive, inclusive, and futuristic (SAIF) city, leveraging data-driven planning and digital twins for smarter urban management.
Presenting the budget, Municipal Commissioner Banchha Nidhi Pani emphasized that this draft balances basic civic services with long-term infrastructure needs, setting a robust foundation for Ahmedabad's future development.
