Ahmedabad AMC flags 274 unsafe structures ahead of Rath Yatra
Synopsis
With Rath Yatra approaching and monsoon weeks away, Ahmedabad's civic body has flagged 274 dangerous buildings in the Central Zone alone — pushing the city's total notified unsafe structures to 1,525 since 2023. The Khadia ward, a key stretch of the procession route, is under particular scrutiny.
Key Takeaways
AMC identified 274 dangerous buildings in Ahmedabad's Central Zone in 2026 ahead of Rath Yatra and the monsoon season.
Total properties issued notices under Section 264 of the GPMC Act has reached 1,525 , including 1,251 served between 2023 and 2025 .
Notices were specifically served in the Khadia ward , a key stretch of the Rath Yatra procession route.
AMC warned that full legal responsibility for any loss of life or property will rest with the owner or occupier of a collapsed structure.
Citizens have been advised not to enter or reside in buildings declared dangerous during the monsoon and festivity period.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has flagged 274 dangerous buildings in the city's Central Zone and issued notices to property owners and occupiers ahead of the annual Rath Yatra and the approaching monsoon season. The civic body announced the findings on Tuesday, 12 May, as part of its intensified public safety and monsoon preparedness drive.
Scale of the Survey
Special inspections were carried out across Ahmedabad, covering government, semi-government, private, individual, and religious trust-owned properties. The Central Zone survey alone identified 274 dangerous structures in 2026. Combined with 1,251 buildings served notices between 2023 and 2025, the total number of properties issued notices under Section 264 of the Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporations (GPMC) Act has now reached 1,525.
Legal Action and Warnings Issued
Notices under Section 264 of the GPMC Act were issued by the AMC's Property Tax Department to owners and occupiers, directing them to immediately remove hazardous portions and undertake necessary repairs. The corporation issued a stern warning: if any loss of life or property occurs due to the collapse of a dangerous structure, full legal responsibility will rest with the owner, occupier, or responsible person concerned.
Notices were specifically served to owners and occupiers in the Khadia ward, one of the key stretches through which the Rath Yatra procession passes each year. The ward falls in the densely populated old city area, where the religious procession draws thousands of devotees.
Why Rath Yatra and Monsoon Are the Twin Triggers
The Rath Yatra is one of Ahmedabad's largest religious processions, passing through several densely populated parts of the old city. The overlap of a high-footfall religious event with the onset of the monsoon — when structurally weakened buildings face heightened collapse risk — makes the enforcement drive especially urgent. This comes amid a broader pattern of civic bodies across Gujarat stepping up pre-monsoon structural audits in recent years.
What Citizens Have Been Told
The AMC has appealed to citizens not to enter, reside in, or use structures that have been declared dangerous for any purpose. Residents living in the vicinity of such buildings have been urged to remain alert and take necessary precautions during both the monsoon period and the Rath Yatra festivities. Property owners have been instructed to complete all repairs and remove hazardous sections without delay.
With the monsoon expected to arrive in the coming weeks and Rath Yatra preparations already under way, the AMC is expected to continue its enforcement drive across remaining zones of the city.
Point of View
Deadlines are set, and enforcement often trails off once the procession passes. The more telling number is 1,525 cumulative notices since 2023: a figure that reflects how slowly Ahmedabad's old city stock is being remediated. The Khadia ward, with its narrow lanes and heritage-era construction, is structurally the most vulnerable stretch of the entire procession route. Whether owners actually comply — or whether the notices simply shift legal liability — is the question the AMC has not yet answered publicly.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many unsafe buildings has the AMC identified in Ahmedabad in 2026?
The AMC identified 274 dangerous buildings in Ahmedabad's Central Zone in 2026. Combined with earlier surveys, the total number of properties issued notices since 2023 has reached 1,525.
Why is AMC conducting this survey ahead of Rath Yatra?
The Rath Yatra is one of Ahmedabad's largest religious processions, passing through densely populated old city areas including the Khadia ward. The overlap with monsoon season — when structurally weakened buildings face higher collapse risk — makes pre-event structural audits a public safety priority.
What legal action can AMC take against owners of dangerous buildings?
The AMC has issued notices under Section 264 of the Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporations (GPMC) Act, directing owners and occupiers to remove hazardous portions and undertake repairs. The corporation has warned that any loss of life or property due to a structural collapse will make the owner or occupier fully liable.
Which areas of Ahmedabad are most affected?
The Central Zone recorded 274 dangerous structures this year, with the Khadia ward — a key stretch of the Rath Yatra route in the old city — specifically targeted for notices to owners and occupiers.
What are citizens advised to do near dangerous buildings?
The AMC has urged citizens not to enter, reside in, or use structures declared dangerous for any purpose. Residents near such buildings have been asked to stay alert and take precautions during the monsoon period and Rath Yatra festivities.
