As Ahmedabad prepares to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, the nearby fast-growing neighbourhoods of Shela, South Bopal (SoBo) and Ghuma continue to suffer from serious civic issues.
Residents complain of broken and dug-up roads, open drainage pits and completely dark stretches due to non-functional streetlights. While Shela falls under AUDA’s jurisdiction, SoBo and Ghuma are managed by the AMC’s South-West Zone—leading to a blame game between the two agencies.
Traffic Troubles Intensify
The road from Club O7 to SP Ring Road has become a major bottleneck. Ongoing drainage and stormwater work has created dangerous conditions for two-wheelers and caused daily traffic jams.
Arvind Gupta, a resident of Vraj Homes in Shela, said, “We’ve been dealing with poor civic facilities for years, but dug-up roads have made things worse. On Saturday, it took me hours to reach home because of traffic near Club O7 and Applewood.”
Dark Streets, Uneven Roads
A SoBo resident said the stretch from VIP Road towards Aarohi Bungalows remains pitch dark due to missing streetlights. “The uneven roads on both sides make commuting risky, especially at night,” he added.
Residents also pointed to a 2–3 ft high open drainage duct near Club O7 Road that has remained unattended. “Why can’t AUDA fix something that is clearly endangering people?” one resident asked.
Despite being among the city’s fastest-growing areas with ongoing real estate projects, basic infrastructure remains inadequate. Heavy trucks moving to and from construction sites add to the congestion, especially on SP Ring Road.
Last monsoon, a major cave-in near Sky City on Club O7 Road swallowed an SUV. Even after the road reopened months later, the surrounding area still faces regular problems, leaving residents frustrated.