Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Sunday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for civic infrastructure and public utility projects worth approximately Rs 404.63 crore in Ahmedabad, including the induction of 155 new air-conditioned electric buses, housing projects, water supply works, road infrastructure, civic digitisation initiatives and public amenities.
The projects were launched during a programme organised by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), with officials stating that the works have been undertaken under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the inspiration of Amit Shah and the support of Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
Addressing the gathering, HM Shah said: "Development is meaningful only when it is planned with future requirements in mind while ensuring convenience for every citizen, including the most ordinary sections of society." The programme covered 22 completed projects worth Rs 304.99 crore and the foundation stone laying of seven new projects worth Rs 99.64 crore.
Among the completed works, Ahmedabad Janmarg Limited (AJL) inducted 80 new air-conditioned electric buses for Rs 42 crore, while the Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS) added 75 air-conditioned electric buses costing Rs 40 crore, expanding the city's public transport fleet with 155 electric buses.
Residential infrastructure inaugurated during the programme included Sundaram Colony D-1 Type residential quarters at LD College of Engineering built for Rs 18.54 crore, C-category residential quarters opposite the Police Stadium costing Rs 14.85 crore, an E-type residential tower at Bungalow No. 33 in Shahibaug worth Rs 14.65 crore and a B-category multi-storey residential tower at the Photolitho Press Colony constructed for Rs 12.64 crore.
The AMC also launched a series of digitised civic services through its E-Governance Department, covering marriage registration, applications for water and drainage connections, swimming pool and gymnasium memberships, contractor registration, food licence services and other municipal facilities.
Other projects inaugurated included a community hall in the Vande Mataram area of Chandlodia ward costing Rs 13.40 crore, a storm water pumping station at Dayavan Lake in Nikol ward built at a cost of Rs 13.32 crore to improve drainage in the Madhuvalati area, a food court and labour welfare centre near Agamanagar Circle in New Wadaj costing Rs 94 lakh and a new Anganwadi near Ajanta Apartment in Thaltej at Rs 17 lakh.
Outside the municipal limits, the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) inaugurated road improvement works, including an underpass on the Sardar Patel Ring Road and improvements at Ognaj Junction worth a combined Rs 64.92 crore. Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, works worth Rs 51.83 crore were also inaugurated to strengthen drinking water infrastructure.
These include a trunk main pipeline supplying treated Narmada water to eight AUDA villages, Shaila, Manipur, Godhavi, Telav, Jivanpura, Sanathal, Visalpur and Navapura, along with an underground sump of 18.4 million litres capacity and a pump house at Telav.
The foundation stone was laid for seven projects valued at Rs 99.64 crore. These include the redevelopment of 279 residential units and five shops at the Chamunda Health Staff Quarters in India Colony at a cost of Rs 46.52 crore. AJL will also construct three BRTS depots equipped with electric bus charging infrastructure at Chandkheda (Rs 20.60 crore), near Bharat Circle (Rs 5.46 crore) and near Hanspura Ring Road (Rs 16.01 crore).
Additional projects include a new public library in Chandkheda ward costing Rs 2.43 crore, a Sponge Park in Vatva ward worth Rs 2.33 crore and the conservation and development of Jaspur Lake by AUDA at a cost of Rs 6.30 crore. Earlier in the programme, HM Shah inaugurated 101 Oxygen Parks across Ahmedabad and dedicated a new Heritage Park on the Sabarmati riverfront, expanding the city's environmental and heritage infrastructure.
Officials said the latest civic projects are intended to strengthen public transport, housing, water supply, digital governance, urban mobility and environmental infrastructure as Ahmedabad continues its ongoing urban development programme.