A controversy has surfaced ahead of the Amdavad Municipal Corporation’s (AMC) annual Kankaria Carnival, scheduled from December 25 to 31 at the Kankaria Lakefront.
The civic body has secured an insurance cover exceeding ₹5,000 crore from Oriental Insurance Company to protect visitors against risks such as terrorism, earthquakes and fire, for which a premium of ₹3.91 lakh has reportedly been paid. However, the insurance terms have sparked concern, as compensation in the event of an accident is said to be linked to the possession of a valid entry ticket.
The clause has raised questions since entry to the carnival is free, as in previous years, and no tickets are issued. This has led to uncertainty over whether visitors would be eligible for compensation in case of any untoward incident during the event.
Following criticism, the AMC admitted there may be a loophole in the insurance conditions. Standing Committee chairman Devang Dani said instructions have been issued to remove the disputed clause, and talks will be held with the insurance company to address the issue.
The Kankaria Carnival 2025 is expected to draw lakhs of visitors and will feature attractions such as drone shows, light-and-sound performances, a pet fashion show and musical programmes by leading Gujarati artistes. Entry will remain free from 4 am to 10 pm throughout the seven-day event.
To handle large crowds, the AMC has put in place extensive security measures, including headcount cameras at all entry and exit points, CCTV surveillance and drone monitoring. Officials said gates will be temporarily closed if the crowd size reaches between 80,000 and one lakh at any given time.