Ahmedabad: The Municipal Commissioner of the Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on Wednesday presented the draft budget for the financial year 2026-27, amounting to Rs 17,018 crore. As per convention, the elected wing of the civic body will review and propose changes before the final budget is presented in the coming days.

This is the first budget after Ahmedabad’s selection as the host city for the Centenary Edition of the Commonwealth Games 2030, setting the stage for international-standard infrastructure development and long-term urban planning.

The draft budget proposed by the Municipal Commissioner is embedded here.

A significant Rs 8,247 crore, representing 84% of the total capital budget, has been allocated towards sustainable and climate-resilient projects.

Key highlights

Mission Five Million Trees: A major drive to enhance the city’s green cover.
Net-Zero Vision: Targets include achieving 100% renewable energy for municipal facilities by 2028 and transitioning the public transport fleet to 3,000 electric buses.
Zero Waste City: Initiatives such as “Waste to Wonder” parks and decentralised waste processing plants to promote a circular economy.

Ease of Movement

Under the “Ease of Movement” pillar, the budget prioritises high-tech traffic management and expanded transit corridors:

• AI-enabled traffic systems: Rs 899 crore earmarked for an Adaptive Traffic Control System (ATCS) to reduce congestion and travel time.

• Elevated corridors: Rs 1,000 crore proposed for major corridors, including Nehrunagar to ISKCON Bridge and Bopal to Ghuma.

• Railway overbridges (ROBs): Five new ROBs are planned to make the city “gate-free” (phatak-mukt).

• Pedestrian-first streets: Rs 1,497 crore allocated for walkable streets and cycling networks.

Urban rejuvenation projects

The budget introduces the “City Square” project at Sindhu Bhavan Road—an urban plaza featuring a landmark 175-metre-high tower with revolving restaurants, sky decks, and a 3D digital gallery.

Additionally, Phase 3 of the Sabarmati Riverfront Development, spanning from Indira Bridge to the Narmada Canal, will be executed with a Rs 1,000 crore investment through philanthropy.

Inclusive Ahmedabad

To ensure affordable living and community development, the budget focuses on:

• Housing for All: A mission to make Ahmedabad a “slum-free city” with over 50,000 new affordable housing units.

• Health and education: Construction of 36 new municipal schools, 100 new anganwadis, and four major Community Health Centres.

• Gender budgeting: Allocations for 25 Pink Toilets and skill development centres for women.

Technology-driven governance

The budget also leverages advanced technology to streamline civic services:

• 3D Digital Twin: For precise city planning and asset management.

• AI Urban Observatory: A central facility to monitor real-time data on drainage, water supply, health, and air quality.

• Smart street-lighting: Rs 100 crore for an AI-driven lighting system covering over 2.14 lakh poles to enhance safety and conserve energy.

The Municipal Commissioner noted that the comprehensive budget aims to transform Ahmedabad into a globally competitive, inclusive, and futuristic city, while ensuring citizens have access to quality healthcare, robust infrastructure, and a clean environment. DeshGujarat