Ahmedabad, February 4, 2026 – The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has unveiled its most ambitious budget yet—a staggering ₹17,018 crore proposal for fiscal year 2026-27 that positions the city squarely on the path to hosting the centenary edition of the Commonwealth Games in 2030.

With capital expenditure reaching ₹9,868 crore and revenue expenditure at ₹7,150 crore, this budget represents AMC’s boldest infrastructure transformation agenda yet—one built around the

Vision of a “Sustainable, Adaptive, Inclusive, and Futuristic (SAIF)” global city.

The Commonwealth Effect

The 2030 Commonwealth Games are the driving force behind this budgetary transformation. A dedicated Commonwealth Readiness Cell has been allocated ₹100 crore specifically for upgrading underground utility lines, road resurfacing, and developing sports corridors. An additional ₹10 crore fund for the AMC Sports Volunteer Program to train youth for event management and community participation.

Sports infrastructure receives major investment: ₹430.84 crore for creating a “Sports City” with fitness culture and active public spaces for every citizen, including ₹211.88 crore for 6 major Sports Complexes and 5 Mini Sports Complexes featuring AR/VR e-sports zones, 5 gymnasiums, 3 swimming pools, and 35 playgrounds.

Infrastructure on Steroids

Water Supply (₹474 Crore Core Infrastructure + ₹794.82 Cr Total):

• 15 new Water Distribution Stations
• New 250 MLD Water Treatment Plant at Jaspur (₹200 Cr)
• 100 MLD plant at Raska (₹80 Cr)
• Smart Water Management System with SCADA (₹80 Cr)

Drainage & Sewerage (₹3,800 Cr Total Wastewater Infrastructure):

• 4 new Sewage Treatment Plants with 315 MLD combined capacity at Motera, Ramol-Hathijan, Ghuma, and Okaf (₹604 Cr)
• ₹1,402.87 Cr for network rehabilitation under World Bank GRCP
• New pumping stations at Navana and Karai (₹70.39 Cr)

Roads (₹1,540.73 Cr Capital Expenditure):

• S.G. Highway Iconic Development: ₹600 crore to transform 10.30 km from Ujala Circle to Vaishnodevi Circle into an Iconic Urban Green Highway with 40,000 trees, artistic paintings, and smart street design
• 8 Iconic Roads: ₹250 crore for 25 km, including high-speed station connectivity
• 13 Model Roads: ₹250 crore for 25 km wall-to-wall development
• Precinct Development: ₹865 crore for 33.8 km covering Metro, Sports, and Heritage precincts
• Elevated Corridors: ₹1,000 crore, including Nehrunagar to ISKCON Bridge

Bridges & Crossings (₹775 Cr for ROBs):

• 5 new Railway Overbridges under the “Fatak Mukt” (gate-free/crossing-free) mission
• Elevated corridors for seamless connectivity

Housing (₹1,440 Cr):

• 50,000+ affordable housing units for a slum-free city
• 7,000 houses under slum re-development via PPP
• 1,000 LIG houses (₹225 Cr)

The Climate Budget: ₹8,247 Crore

AMC has allocated a remarkable ₹8,247 crore—84% of its capital budget—toward climate-resilient and sustainable projects:

Energy & Transport:

• ₹505 crore for 100% Renewable Energy for municipal facilities and 100% electric public transport
• Target: 100% RE by 2028 with 100MW captive solar projects
• 3,000 EV buses by 2030 (₹980 Cr for 2026-27)

Urban Greening & Nature (₹403.82 Cr for Blue-Green Infrastructure):

• Mission Five Million Trees: ₹100 crore for intensive plantation of 5 million saplings
• Lake Development: ₹80 crore for 15 lakefronts
• Lake Re-development: ₹40 crore for 7 lakes
• Thematic Road Beautification: ₹130 crore for 30 locations

Flood-Proofing (₹472.71 Cr):

• Storm Water Network-10: ₹453 crore for extensions in Bopal-Ghuma and Chandlodiya
• Lake Interlinking: ₹48 crore to connect 6 lakes in the North-West zone to the Gota-Godhavi canal

Zero Waste City (₹289.40 Cr):

• Waste to Wonder Park: ₹200 crore to transform Pirana plant site into green landscape
• C&D Waste: ₹50 crore for renovating 12 Collection Centres
• 23 new RRR (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) centres—one per ward
• Waste to Art: ₹2.40 crore for 10 new sculptures

Clean Air:

• Ahmedabad Clean Air Mission: AQI sensors and air purification systems at 50 traffic junctions and 26 crematoriums

Smart City 2.0

Digital governance receives substantial investment:

• Adaptive Traffic Control System (ATCS): ₹899 crore for AI-driven traffic management
• Smart Street Lights: ₹100 crore for AI-enabled lighting system
• 3D Digital Twin Project (GIS 2.0): ₹97 crore under World Bank GRCP for comprehensive mapping of 5,500 km road network
• Safe and Secure Ahmedabad 2.0: ₹50 crore for 2,300 new cameras
• Multi-modal Transport Hubs & Single Ticketing: ₹1,628 crore

Futuristic Projects

City Square Development (Sindhu Bhavan Road): ₹692 crore for a 175-meter iconic tower with viewing gallery—set to become Ahmedabad’s new landmark

Sabarmati Riverfront Phase-3: ₹1,000 crore for development from Indira Bridge to Narmada Canal

Science and Futuristic Park: ₹80 crore

Heritage Experience Centre: ₹10 crore

Walkable & People-first Streets: ₹1,497.13 crore

The Credibility Factor

AMC touts recent achievements that demonstrate institutional capacity:

• Ranked 1 as India’s cleanest city (10+ lakh population) in Swachh Survekshan 2024-25
• 7-Star “Garbage Free City” rating
• Two Guinness World Records for ‘Largest Flower Mandala’ and ‘Largest Flower Portrait’ during Flower Show 2026

The Uncomfortable Questions

Despite impressive allocations, critical concerns remain:

1. Execution Track Record: AMC’s history with mega-projects is mixed. Will this budget’s ambitious timelines face similar delays?

2. Citizen-Centric or Event-Centric? While ₹600 crore goes to S.G. Highway’s “iconic development” and sports infrastructure receives ₹430.84 crore, are resources disproportionately concentrated in showcased areas while peripheral zones remain underserved?

3. The Cycling Paradox: Weeks after the Copenhagenize Index ranked Ahmedabad 87th out of 100 cities with a dismal 12.7 score for cycling “Usage & Reach,” where’s the dedicated cycling infrastructure allocation? The ₹899 crore ATCS focuses on motorised traffic—what about vulnerable road users? The ₹1,497.13 crore for “walkable and people-first streets” sounds promising, but will it genuinely prioritise pedestrians and cyclists, or remain car-centric?

4. Flood-Proofing Reality: While ₹472.71 crore for flood protection is welcome, repeated annual flooding suggests systemic issues. The storm water network extension focuses on Bopal-Ghuma and Chandlodiya—but what about other flood-prone areas?

5. Affordable Housing: 50,000 units sound impressive, but Ahmedabad’s housing deficit runs deeper. Are these genuinely affordable for the city’s working class, or priced beyond their reach?

The Commonwealth Vs City Priorities

There’s inherent tension: building for global audiences versus serving local needs. Commonwealth investments will create world-class infrastructure in certain corridors. But will peripheral areas see proportional investment?

The ₹692 crore City Square tower and ₹600 crore S.G. Highway “iconic development” are impressive—but do they address the daily struggles of ordinary Amdavadis navigating potholed roads, inadequate drainage, and unreliable water supply in non-showcase areas?

The Verdict: Ambitious Vision, Execution Awaited

The AMC Budget 2026-27 is undeniably comprehensive. The sustainability focus (84% climate budget), digital governance push (₹899 Cr ATCS + ₹100 Cr smart lights), and infrastructure investments align with 21st-century urban needs.

However, budgets are promises written in numbers. True measure lies in execution—not just completion, but quality, inclusivity, and genuine impact on citizens’ daily lives.

As Ahmedabad builds toward its Commonwealth moment, citizens must ask: Will this ₹17,018 crore investment create a city serving all residents, or merely a polished showcase for international audiences?

For now, the budget deserves cautious optimism coupled with relentless civic vigilance. The Commonwealth Games last two weeks. Citizens live here forever.

Download the budget here.