Is Ahmedabad Ready for a Major Water and Drainage Overhaul?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Infrastructure Upgrade: Major enhancements in water and drainage systems.
- Community Impact: Benefits nearly 1 million residents.
- Future-Ready City: Aligns with ambitions for global sporting events.
- Monsoon Resilience: Addresses flooding and waterlogging issues.
- Comprehensive Planning: Integrated solutions for sustainable urban growth.
Ahmedabad, Oct 22 (NationPress) The Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) has initiated a comprehensive infrastructure project aimed at resolving longstanding challenges related to drinking water, drainage, and waterlogging.
This extensive initiative spans 4,000 hectares and is projected to benefit approximately 1 million residents. The project plans to establish a contemporary, integrated drainage and stormwater management system across more than 24 Town Planning (T.P.) schemes.
The undertaking will involve the development of new drainage pipelines, stormwater management systems, treatment facilities, and pumping stations. AUDA officials anticipate that the entire project will be finalized within three years.
Currently, numerous areas lack adequate stormwater infrastructure, leading to recurrent flooding during the monsoon season. The new system aims to connect existing disjointed lines to a cohesive drainage network, thereby enhancing rainwater flow and flood control.
This initiative encompasses both the western and eastern regions under AUDA's oversight. In the western Lilapur-Ognaj area, a drainage network will be constructed over 786 hectares, engineered to manage 27 MLD of sewage by 2041 and 49 MLD by 2056.
A comprehensive project report (DPR) is already in progress, with the scheme expected to directly aid around 3.87 lakh individuals in Lilapur, Jaspur, and Khodiyar.
On the eastern front, the new infrastructure will provide relief to over 6.5 lakh people. It will cover 603 hectares in Ranasan, Enasan, Muthia, Bilasiya, and Hanspura (benefiting 58,000 residents); 907 hectares in Santej, Lapkaman, and Rakanpur (benefiting 2.8 lakh residents); and 1,474 hectares in Jetalpur, Aslali, Gamdi, Nandej, and Gertpur (benefiting 3.35 lakh residents).
Ahmedabad is progressively positioning itself as a key player on the global sports landscape, with preparations ongoing to align with international infrastructure standards ahead of the Commonwealth Games 2030 and the Summer Olympics 2036, for which India is aiming to submit a bid.
The city’s rapid urban growth, combined with significant public upgrades in transportation, drainage, housing, and community services, forms part of a broader vision to evolve Ahmedabad into a “future-ready” metropolis capable of hosting large-scale international events.