Ahmedabad has received 15 inches of rainfall over the past month, revealing serious flaws in the city’s road infrastructure. In response, Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani has directed civic officials to repair nearly 3,000 potholes across city roads within three days.
He also instructed staff to promptly respond during heavy rains to ensure swift drainage in affected areas.
The urgency follows a tragic incident last week in Odhav, where a motorcyclist lost his life after being swept away by floodwater. In the aftermath, the commissioner visited several flood-hit areas, interacted with residents, and reviewed AMC’s ongoing work.
At a review meeting held on Wednesday, Pani sharply criticized the Water Resources Management officer over the poor condition of city lakes. “You talk about interlinking lakes—then why is sewage entering them?” he questioned.
Despite ongoing efforts, thousands of potholes remain across the city. The commissioner emphasized rapid water removal from service roads along SP Ring Road and low-lying areas like Bopal and the Madhumalati Housing Scheme in Nikol.
479 Potholes in East Ahmedabad
In East Ahmedabad alone, 479 potholes have been reported from areas like Gomtipur, Amraiwadi, Bhaipura, Ramol, Hatijan, Vastral, Odhav, Nikol, and Viratnagar. Of these, 74 are attributed to stormwater drainage line damage. So far, ₹7 lakh has been spent to repair 392 potholes in the region.
Ward-wise Pothole Count:
| Ward | Potholes |
|---|---|
| Gomtipur | 114 |
| Amraiwadi | 45 |
| Bhaipura | 32 |
| Ramol | 31 |
| Vastral | 57 |
| Odhav | 91 |
| Viratnagar | 59 |
| Nikol | 50 |
The AMC faces growing public criticism as monsoon conditions worsen, with residents demanding quicker and more efficient repairs.