Ahmedabad: In view of the proposed development of the Sardar Patel Sports Enclave and preparations for the 2036 Olympics bid, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has initiated a major infrastructure project to shift the existing 1,600 mm diameter western trunk water main passing through the Narendra Modi Stadium premises.

The project involves relocating the trunk main originating from the 650 MLD Kotarpur Water Works, which supplies water to several Water Distribution (W.D.) stations in the western zone of the city. The pipeline currently passes through the Motera Frenchwell Bridge and the Sardar Patel Sports Enclave area, which has now become a major bottleneck for riverfront expansion and sports infrastructure development.

Under the proposed plan, the existing pipeline will be shifted from the stadium premises and rerouted by encasing it inside the diaphragm wall on the downstream side of the proposed barrage-cum-bridge. The new alignment will cross the river and connect to the existing trunk mains near Torrent Power, ensuring uninterrupted water supply while freeing land required for Olympic-related development.

The work has been awarded to Ranjit Baldicon Limited. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 40.68 crore, while the tender amount stands at Rs 30.68 crore.

At present, a significant portion of the water supply to the western and central zones depends on the 1,600 mm diameter western trunk mains from Kotarpur Water Works. From this main line, two 1,600 mm diameter MS branch pipelines originate near the cantonment area. One branch supplies the central zone via Sadar Road to the Dudheshwar Water Works, while the other passes over the Motera Frenchwell Bridge and through the Narendra Modi Stadium premises to supply the western zone.

The existing 1,900 mm diameter western short mains currently supply nearly 200 MLD of water to 27 W.D. stations in the western zone. However, the present alignment laid around 1986, when town planning roads were not finalized passes through cantonment land, private riverbank premises, and the sports enclave, making it unsuitable for future urban development and maintenance.

To address these constraints, AMC has planned a new route along the approach roads on both sides of the barrage-cum-bridge between Airport Circle and Dafnala. The pipeline will be laid within the downstream diaphragm wall of the river-crossing structure.

To ensure uninterrupted water supply during future maintenance, both working and standby pipelines will be installed under the river crossing. Keeping future demand in mind, the new pipeline will be upgraded from the existing 1,600 mm diameter to 2,200 mm diameter.

The project includes the laying of approximately 1,800 metres of MS pipeline, along with required valves, interconnections, and allied works. Once commissioned, the existing pipeline passing through the final plot of the Hansol Town Planning Scheme and the Sardar Patel Sports Enclave will be permanently closed and removed.

The relocation is expected to eliminate long-standing infrastructure constraints while strengthening Ahmedabad’s water distribution network ahead of large-scale urban and sporting developments planned for the coming decade. DeshGujarat