More than 15,000 residents are visiting Ahmedabad's municipal swimming pools every day as the city braces against intense summer heat, with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) rolling out additional batches, health measures, and extended evening sessions to manage the seasonal surge. The spike in footfall coincides with school holidays, pushing the 21 operational AMC pools across the city to near-capacity.

Expanded Batches and Extended Hours

To meet rising demand, the AMC has introduced extra batches at all pools. Advanced coaching batches have been added specifically for children preparing for competitive swimming. Evening sessions for learners aged above 12 run from 7:30 pm to 8:15 pm, followed by a dedicated batch for experienced swimmers from 8:15 pm to 9 pm. Each batch draws an average of more than 100 participants, with coaching staff also performing lifeguard duties.

Health and Hygiene Measures at Pools

Oral rehydration solution (ORS) has been made available at all pool premises to address dehydration risk during peak summer conditions — accessible to children, women, and men alike. Water quality is monitored daily, with pH and chlorine levels checked to ensure safety. Regular cleaning and supervision are being carried out to maintain hygiene standards. The AMC has also arranged a morning mixed batch for women and is running social media awareness campaigns to discourage water wastage.

Concessions and Facilities for Different Groups

The corporation is offering fee concessions to municipal employees, women, school and college students, and retired coaches associated with the pool department. District-level champions are issued C-cards for access. Officials said the AMC is working to introduce an online registration system to streamline enrolments further.

Commonwealth Games 2030 in Sight

Looking ahead, the AMC said it plans to develop new swimming pools and recreation centres in the city, keeping the Commonwealth Games 2030 in view. Efforts are also underway to provide high-quality coaching to advanced swimmers so they can compete at the national level. The corporation's long-term infrastructure push signals an ambition beyond seasonal management.

Vadodara Team Studies AMC's Civic Model

In a related development, officials from the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) visited AMC departments to study the management and operational systems of civic facilities, including swimming pools, sports complexes, libraries, and auditoriums. The visiting team toured key facilities such as Kankaria Swimming Pool, Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, sports complexes in Vastral and Maninagar, the sports centre under the Ranip underbridge, M.J. Library, and the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Auditorium. AMC officials provided detailed briefings across all seven zones, after which the VMC expressed appreciation for the information shared. The visit underscores growing inter-city interest in Ahmedabad's civic infrastructure model.