Vadodara's Roads Transformed into Excavation Sites as Winter Digging Spree Intensifies
With the onset of winter, Vadodara has witnessed an unprecedented citywide digging operation that has left major roads resembling excavation sites. The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has embarked on a massive pipeline laying initiative that has paralyzed traffic, endangered commuters, and plunged citizens into daily chaos across multiple neighborhoods.
Extensive Road Closures and Traffic Paralysis
The scale of the ongoing works becomes evident from the numerous notifications issued by the civic body announcing road closures. Over recent days, VMC has shut down roads in four significant areas:
- Atladara-Kalali
- Gotri
- Vasna
- Manjalpur
All these closures have been specifically undertaken for laying sewage pipelines, with similar notifications having been issued earlier as well. The exercise has been so extensive that, at times, the civic body has even shut parallel roads either fully or partially to facilitate the ongoing works.
Western Vadodara's Transportation Nightmare
In the western parts of the city, residents have faced particularly severe disruptions. One side of Racecourse Road was closed from Chakli Circle, while Lions Hall Road, which runs parallel to it, remained shut for days near Gadapura. Simultaneously, a substantial portion of one lane on another parallel road, Sainath Marg, was also dug up, creating a perfect storm of transportation challenges for daily commuters and businesses alike.
Massive Infrastructure Investment: Rs 855 Crore Projects
VMC sources have revealed that a staggering 41 major projects for laying pipelines are currently underway across the city. These projects include:
- Drainage lines
- Water supply lines
- Stormwater drains
The total cost of these works stands at an astonishing Rs 855 crore, with many observers noting that such large-scale infrastructure work has not been witnessed in Vadodara in the recent past. VMC officials have clarified that these 41 projects represent only major works being executed centrally by the project wings of respective departments, with several smaller works also being carried out simultaneously at zonal and ward levels.
Post-Flood Infrastructure Overhaul
VMC additional city engineer Dharmikkumar Dave, who also heads drainage projects, explained that the 2025 floods had severely impacted several areas with ageing drainage systems. "Over time, problems began surfacing at multiple locations, forcing us to take up these works. It may appear sudden, but that is not the case," he stated.
Sources added that another key reason for initiating some projects now was to extend civic facilities to newly added areas of the city, including outgrowth zones. There are also areas that have seen rapid development over the last few years and require upgraded drainage, water supply, and stormwater infrastructure to support growing populations.
Monsoon Delays and Political Controversy
A senior VMC official cited the prolonged monsoon this year as a major reason for the concentration of works over the last couple of months. "We usually begin work in early October after the monsoon, but this time it got pushed back," he explained, suggesting that weather conditions contributed to the current intensity of construction activities.
However, the opposition in VMC's elected wing has leveled serious allegations against the timing of these projects. Congress leader and leader of opposition Chandrakant Shrivastav claimed, "They did nothing for years and suddenly sprang into action ahead of the polls. Large parts of the city have been dug up," suggesting that election considerations may have influenced the scheduling of these massive infrastructure projects.
As Vadodara residents navigate through the maze of construction sites and traffic diversions, the city faces a critical period of infrastructure transformation that promises improved civic amenities but currently delivers significant daily inconvenience to thousands of commuters and residents.
