The city’s eastern residents brace for another season of waterlogged streets and disrupted lives. Despite the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) sanctioning over ₹3 crore for stormwater and drainage infrastructure in East Ahmedabad, the commencement of this critical work has been deferred until after the monsoon.
This delay has sparked concerns about the city’s preparedness and the effectiveness of its flood mitigation strategies. The AMC’s Water Committee recently approved tenders for eight wards in the East Zone, allocating ₹2.58 crore for new drainage and stormwater lines on recently developed roads and ₹79.13 lakh for maintenance and installation in other areas. Contracts have been awarded to firms including Dhruvi Buildcon, Bhagirath Corporation, and Jayram Corporation. However, the decision to postpone the initiation of these projects until after the monsoon season has raised questions about the timing and planning of such essential infrastructure work.
This approach appears to be a reactive measure rather than a proactive strategy. Following severe waterlogging caused by early morning showers in Ahmedabad, the AMC engaged IIT Gandhinagar to conduct a city-wide survey to address urban flooding. The ₹12 lakh contract aims to develop detailed designs and a comprehensive project report (DPR) to mitigate such flooding. This initiative aligns with the National Disaster Management Authority’s program identifying seven Indian cities, including Ahmedabad, for flood prevention efforts. Despite spending over ₹1,000 crore over two years to combat waterlogging, Ahmedabad continues to struggle with flooding during the monsoon. The AMC has implemented several measures, including stormwater lines, percolation wells, pumping stations, and lake interlinking, yet heavy rains still lead to significant water accumulation, particularly in eastern areas.
A major project to lay a trunk drainage line along the SP Ring Road, expected to mitigate flooding, is only 90% complete and may miss its June 10, 2025, deadline. During the unseasonal rains in May, over 100 locations faced waterlogging, highlighting the inefficacy of existing measures. In response to these challenges, the AMC has initiated 36 new projects worth ₹841.45 crore for the 2024-25 pre-monsoon season, many of which remain incomplete. Additionally, the Kharicut Canal Development Project, vital for flood mitigation, is still underway. Problems such as plastic-covered catch pits have compounded the waterlogging issue. While the AMC has taken steps like constructing over 4,300 new catch pits and installing automated barriers at underpasses, these efforts have fallen short.
The ongoing redevelopment of the Kharicut Canal in Ahmedabad has led to significant waterlogging in the city’s eastern areas following recent heavy rainfall. The affected localities include Isanpur, Odhav, Maninagar, Vatva, Lambha, and Danilimda. The problem arose as rainwater could not be pumped into the canal due to the halting of pump operations during the redevelopment. Officials from the AMC indicated that using pumps around the canal to divert rainwater could interfere with the construction work, prompting the decision to redirect rainwater through the city’s drainage system instead. However, this alternative proved inadequate, causing widespread waterlogging. The redevelopment of the 22-km-long canal has been underway for the past three years and is being conducted at an estimated cost of ₹1,250 crore.
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