Despite the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) directing all pre-monsoon works to be completed by June 15, banning fresh road excavations and ordering pothole repairs before the onset of rains, several infrastructure projects across the city remain unfinished, exposing commuters to hazardous conditions.
More than two weeks after the deadline, with the monsoon now in full swing, dug-up roads, incomplete construction and poor civic planning have surfaced at several locations, disrupting traffic and raising safety concerns.
Residents of Gota, New Ranip, Nava Vadaj, Odhav and Narol have alleged that incomplete civic works have worsened road conditions during the season’s first spell of rain, leading to waterlogging, potholes and traffic bottlenecks.
Nearly a fortnight ago, Standing Committee Chairman Kamlesh Patel had instructed civic officials to complete pending works and stop fresh excavations before the monsoon. However, residents claim several contractors and departments have failed to comply with the directives.
Locals alleged that, as in previous years, the AMC’s multi-crore pre-monsoon preparedness plan has largely remained confined to paper, while unfinished projects continue to inconvenience citizens.
Odhav: Dilapidated water tank raises safety concerns
Residents of Adinath Nagar in Odhav have expressed concern over a decades-old water tank, dating back to the panchayat era, which remains in a dilapidated condition despite guidelines requiring unsafe structures to be demolished before the monsoon.
Located adjacent to an AMC primary school, the ageing structure has become a cause of anxiety among locals, who fear that continuous rainfall could weaken it further and pose a threat to schoolchildren.
Gota: Half-finished road turns accident-prone
Road work on the stretch connecting Godrej Garden City Crossroads to Vrundavan Heights via Savvy Swaraj began nearly two months ago. While one carriageway has been completed, the other remains unfinished.
Residents said deep potholes have developed near Vrundavan Heights, with rainwater accumulation making the stretch slippery and increasing the risk of accidents. They alleged that despite recurring complaints every monsoon, the issue has remained unresolved.
New Ranip: Excavation continues despite monsoon
Road construction near the Khodiyar Temple crossroads in New Ranip has reportedly continued for nearly three months, with a large excavation still lying open after the onset of the monsoon.
Residents alleged that inadequate barricading has been provided and portions of the trench have merely been covered with loose soil. They also pointed to an open drainage line on the road towards Kaligam, describing it as a major hazard, especially during the night.
Narol: Overflowing drains add to residents’ woes
Residents of Maria Park in Ranipur village, Narol, have been grappling with overflowing sewage and damaged roads for nearly two months.
According to locals, repeated representations to civic authorities and elected representatives, including corporators and Hospital Committee Chairman Dr Chandni Patel, have yielded little response. They fear stagnant sewage during the monsoon could trigger water-borne diseases.
Nava Vadaj: White-topping work misses deadlines
The white-topping project near the railway crossing in Vasukinagar, Nava Vadaj, has been under execution for nearly six months.
Residents alleged that work is progressing at a slow pace, with only one side of the road completed so far. They claimed repeated deadline extensions have prolonged inconvenience for commuters and delayed the restoration of smooth traffic movement.