Even as heavy rain on Thursday night led to widespread waterlogging across Ahmedabad, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is still in the process of preparing its citywide storm water drainage plan. Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani stated that a detailed blueprint would be ready “within 15 days” — despite the monsoon already being underway.
According to a media report, the city has only 940 km of storm water drains for a road network exceeding 2,500 km. Following Thursday’s downpour, which resulted in waterlogging at 105 locations — with 10 spots submerged for over eight hours — the AMC said that high-risk zones would be prioritised in the upcoming drainage strategy.
Opposition demands action against officials over flooding
In response to the flooding, opposition leaders have demanded police complaints be filed against civic officials responsible for mismanagement. They pointed out that the AMC often floats tenders just weeks before the rainy season, and contract terms usually exclude the monsoon months—creating loopholes that allow for delays without penalties.
Despite Ahmedabad’s designation as a Smart City, problems like road cave-ins, sewer backflows, and seasonal flooding continue to disrupt daily life during the monsoon.
220 sites dug up, at least 58 at risk of road collapse
Over the last eight months, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has dug up 220 sites across the city for drainage work. Of these, 162 have been completed, but work is still going on at 31 spots. Another 27 locations have been filled temporarily with loose soil.
Officials admit that these temporary soil fillings are unsafe during heavy rain, as the soil can sink and cause roads to collapse. This puts at least 58 areas in Ahmedabad at risk, leaving citizens to navigate broken, dangerous roads with little warning or signage.
According to central government rules, all road, drainage, and water work should either be completed by June 30 or paused during the monsoon. But in many areas, that deadline has already been missed, and there’s no clear timeline from contractors on when the work will finish.
Ongoing Work in Key Areas:
- Saraswati Hospital to Shantipura Crossroads
- Bandhan Triangle to SG Highway
- Vastral Village Metro to Vastral Garden
- Nikol Village to Canal
- Odhav Pumping Station to Vyapari Mahajan Road
- Iskcon–Ambli Road
- Hebatpur Canal to SP Ring Road
- Gota (Capital to Hebatpur Road)
- Ghatlodia (stormwater line installation)
- Shahibaug (duct repair)
Sites with Loose Soil Filling:
- Vastral Police Chowki to SP Ring Road
- Vastral Village to Eastern Trunk Main Line
- Nikol Village to Canal
- Aslali Circle to Canal
- Sarkhej Drainage to Railway Line
- Vastral Primary School to Residential Area
- Shantipura Junction to Metro Mall, Sarkhej
- Radhe Petrol Pump to Krish Icon Tanki, Thaltej
- Sanathal Circle to Fatehwadi Canal
- Express Highway to Ring Road, Ramol
AMC to Launch Rain Alert System
To help residents prepare for extreme weather, AMC is creating a new alert system with the help of the Meteorological Department. This tool will give advance warnings on rainfall — including the timing, intensity, and specific areas likely to be affected. The alerts will be shared on the AMC website and other public platforms.
Current Drainage Work Summary:
- Total sites dug: 220
- Work completed: 162
- Ongoing: 31
- Temporary soil filling: 27
- High-risk zones during rain: 58
Despite years of Smart City claims and large spending on drainage upgrades, Ahmedabad still enters the monsoon season unprepared. Residents continue to face the same problems every year — waterlogging, road collapses, and sewage overflows. While officials promise better systems in the future, citizens are once again left dealing with the aftermath, navigating unsafe streets and unfinished works.