The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a series of weather alerts for Gujarat, with Ahmedabad under a five-day Yellow Alert. The adverse weather is expected to cause significant disruptions, particularly to the city’s transport services.
The IMD has declared a two-day Red Alert for several regions, including Chhota Udaipur, Narmada, Bharuch, Surat, Navsari, Valsad, Daman, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, due to forecasts of heavy rainfall. Simultaneously, a five-day Yellow Alert is in effect for 16 districts in Central Gujarat and the Saurashtra region. These districts include Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Kheda, Anand, Panchmahal, Dahod, Mahisagar, and Vadodara, highlighting the need for residents to stay vigilant and prepared for potential weather-related disruptions. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has announced that several Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) routes will be affected on Wednesday due to the weather conditions. Specific routes, such as Civil Hospital to Kalupur Shuttle Route No-18, RTO Circular Route No-101, and RTO Anti-Circular Route No-201, will be completely closed. Additionally, six other routes will experience partial closures, while service will continue on nine routes. This disruption will affect approximately 30 bus stands, with significant impact on operations between Kalupur and Ellisbridge, Civil Hospital to Kalupur, and Naroda GCS Hospital to Naroda Workshop, suspending services from 1:30 pm until late evening.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) airport experienced significant disruptions on Monday as moderate to heavy rains in Ahmedabad led to traffic snarls and waterlogged roads, causing delays for travellers. Adverse weather conditions across various parts of the country further exacerbated the situation, resulting in delays for 45 flights. Passengers faced considerable inconvenience as they navigated through challenging conditions to reach the airport. Residents of Sola and Jagatpur have strongly protested against the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s plans to construct a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in their residential areas. Concerns over potential odours and health risks have fuelled the opposition, despite assurances from municipal engineers that these issues would not arise. The STP project, with a significant financial outlay, remains a contentious topic among the local community, highlighting the need for ongoing dialogue and resolution. Ahmedabad faced severe disruptions on Monday due to three hours of heavy rain, resulting in 2.6 inches of rainfall. The deluge caused widespread waterlogging and traffic jams, bringing the city to a standstill. The Mithakhali Underpass was closed as a precautionary measure, and fallen trees at ten different locations added to the challenges faced by motorists.
