The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is set to invite tenders worth approximately ₹900 crore for permanent stormwater drainage works in newly merged panchayat areas and the city's western suburbs, after record rainfall over 24–25 July exposed critical gaps in the city's drainage infrastructure. Gujarat's Minister-in-Charge for Ahmedabad district, Rushikesh Patel, made the announcement on Friday, 25 July, following a joint inspection of rain-hit localities with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.

What Triggered the Decision

Two zones of Ahmedabad recorded unprecedented rainfall within a very short window, overwhelming existing drainage systems and causing prolonged waterlogging across residential and commercial areas. The South-West Zone bore the brunt with an average of 458.33 mm of rainfall, followed by the North-West Zone at 395.21 mm. The highest single-point rainfall was recorded in Bopal at 504.3 mm — exceeding 20 inches — according to Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani.

Across the city, an average of 18.42 inches of rainfall was recorded, prompting authorities to open all 22 gates of the Vasna Barrage. A total of 245 pumps at 42 stormwater pumping stations and 305 pumps at 83 drainage pumping stations were deployed at full capacity.

Key Developments on the Ground

AMC's Standing Committee chairman Kamlesh Patel said waterlogging complaints were received from 126 residential societies, of which 52 had been cleared by Friday. The corporation had identified 148 waterlogging locations for priority action, with systematic clearance operations continuing at the remaining sites.

Around 40 Varun pumps were deployed across all seven municipal zones, with provision for additional units if rainfall intensified. More than 11 underpasses were shut at the peak of the deluge; by Thursday, only the Chandlodia underpass remained closed. BRTS and AMTS bus services resumed normally across most of the city, barring a few waterlogged stretches.

Officials also attended to 173 complaints of fallen trees and 46 complaints related to streetlights. Road cave-ins were reported at several locations; Minister Rushikesh Patel said repair work was being carried out on priority and that AMC was working to prevent recurrence on newly constructed roads.

The Infrastructure Gap Behind the Flooding

The flooding has brought into sharp focus a structural challenge: Bopal and Ghuma — among the worst-affected localities — still rely on the old stormwater network from their gram panchayat days, according to Municipal Commissioner Pani. As Ahmedabad has expanded and absorbed former panchayat areas into its municipal limits, the legacy drainage networks have proved inadequate for urban-scale rainfall loads.

Minister Rushikesh Patel noted that flooding at previously identified black spots had reduced compared with earlier years, indicating some progress — but acknowledged that the city's rapid growth had outpaced drainage capacity. The proposed ₹900 crore tender package will cover newly merged panchayat areas, western localities including Bopal and Ghuma, and drainage lines connected to the S.P. Ring Road to improve rainwater discharge.

Precautions and Advisories in Place

With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a red alert for continued heavy rainfall, the civic administration said all precautionary measures remained active. Schools, colleges, and anganwadis have been closed, and residents have been advised to work from home where possible, avoid unnecessary travel, and follow civic advisories.

Minister Rushikesh Patel said the administration was fully prepared with additional drainage arrangements if required, adding that the target was to ensure water receded from most parts of the city by 6 pm on Friday. With the ₹900 crore tender package expected to be floated soon, the AMC is signalling a shift from reactive flood management to long-term drainage infrastructure investment.