Ahmedabad's Massive Civic Overhaul Triggers Widespread Commuter Chaos
The daily commute for residents of Ahmedabad has transformed into a slow, dusty ordeal as the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) launches an unprecedented wave of civic works. With more than 100 projects underway simultaneously across the city, roads have been torn open, diversions have proliferated, and traffic bottlenecks have become a routine frustration. This extensive initiative, valued at over Rs 3,000 crore, focuses on critical upgrades to water, drainage, and stormwater infrastructure, aiming to modernize the city's underground systems.
Immediate Inconvenience for Residents and Businesses
For the AMC, this disruption represents a long-overdue reset of aging infrastructure, but for Ahmedabad's citizens and enterprises, the inconvenience is palpable and immediate. Office-goers are leaving home earlier yet still arriving late, while two-wheelers navigate perilously through narrow gaps, raising significant safety concerns. Local neighborhoods now resemble temporary construction camps, with mounds of earth, metal sheets, and caution tape lining the streets, and dust settling persistently on balconies and vehicles despite frequent cleaning efforts.
Businesses along major routes are reporting slower sales and unpredictable customer flows, as the chaotic environment deters shoppers. Even emergency services like ambulances are forced to move cautiously through congested corridors, and routine errands have turned into complex logistical challenges. In residential areas, constant drilling and excavation are disrupting sleep and daily routines, adding to the growing frustration among residents.
Unprecedented Scale of Infrastructure Investment
While AMC officials claim to be employing micro-tunnelling technology to minimize open trenches, the sheer volume of concurrent works is without precedent in the city's history. Civic authorities highlight that after the major 2012 stormwater duct project in Jodhpur ward, annual stormwater expenditures typically ranged between Rs 20 crore and Rs 25 crore. However, in the past two years alone, spending on stormwater projects has skyrocketed, exceeding Rs 1,000 crore.
Over this period, AMC has initiated 48 stormwater network projects costing approximately Rs 1,080 crore, over 30 drainage line replacement works valued at more than Rs 1,500 crore, and water network upgrades worth over Rs 600 crore. A senior civic official, speaking anonymously, revealed that a pollution action plan was developed following the Indore incident to prevent drinking water contamination in older localities. This plan involves replacing all drainage and water pipelines in areas such as Jamalpur, Dariapur, Shahibaug, and Khadia, with an estimated cost of Rs 421.23 crore. The broader package, encompassing stormwater lines, lake interlinking, micro-tunnelling, and pumping stations, surpasses Rs 1,000 crore.
Extensive Geographic Spread of Excavation Projects
The map of excavation spans across Ahmedabad, featuring numerous high-value projects. Key initiatives include a Rs 36.27-crore RCC duct from Vejalpur's Sonal Cinema to the Sabarmati via Makarba Police Headquarters, a Rs 70.32-crore micro-tunnelled line from Anjali Crossroads under Ambedkar Bridge to the river, and a Rs 68.99-crore link from Manekbaug to Anjali. Additionally, lakes are being interlinked for Rs 104.08 crore in the West Zone and Rs 97.50 crore in the East Zone to enhance monsoon flow management.
Along the SP Ring Road, a Rs 205.97-crore trunk mains line is under construction from the Express Highway to Komod village. Drainage replacements form another critical layer of the overhaul, with projects in Shahpur (Rs 104.12 crore), Shahibaug (Rs 51.70 crore), Jamalpur (Rs 53.21 crore), Khadia (Rs 55.13 crore), Asarwa (Rs 97.09 crore), and Dariapur (Rs 59.98 crore). Pumping stations in Geratpur (Rs 35 crore), TP Schemes 89 and 90 (Rs 17 crore), and Ekta Nagar (Rs 17 crore) are also part of the effort, alongside a Rs 76-crore trunk line being micro-tunnelled from Naroda to Jashodanagar.
Future Challenges and Civic Assurances
Engineers acknowledge potential future challenges, noting that some roads may settle during the 2026 monsoon as soil compacts over deep trenches. Despite the widespread complaints about digging and traffic disruptions, a senior civic official expressed optimism, stating, "Extensive stormwater, drainage, and water network works have triggered complaints, but these will hopefully be completed before the monsoon and resolve rainwater problems for citizens." This assurance underscores AMC's commitment to improving Ahmedabad's infrastructure, even as the city grapples with the temporary hardships of this massive civic overhaul.
