Mahemdavad: A major urban facelift is on the cards for Mahemdavad, with a riverfront project along the Vatrak River emerging as the centrepiece of a broader development plan aimed at accelerating infrastructure growth in the town.

Modelled on Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati riverfront, the proposed project will come up along the banks of the Vatrak River passing through the town. Alongside the riverfront, a landscaped garden will also be developed near the Bhutnath Mahadev temple, with design plans already finalised. The initiative is expected to significantly enhance the town’s aesthetics and public spaces.

The state government has sanctioned development works worth several crores for Mahemdavad and nearby villages falling under the AUDA jurisdiction. After decades of limited intervention—primarily restricted to road construction in some areas despite inclusion in AUDA over 40 years ago—the pace of development has now been stepped up.

As part of the infrastructure overhaul, a comprehensive underground drainage network is being rolled out across all wards of the town at an estimated cost of ₹120 crore. The project includes laying pipelines spanning several kilometres and the construction of a new pumping station, work on which has already commenced.

Due to the ongoing drainage work, AUDA has temporarily prohibited new road and block construction activities in the town. Meanwhile, funds amounting to ₹8 crore allocated to the municipality will be utilised for urban beautification projects, including the riverfront and garden development.

Additional projects in the pipeline include the construction of a fire station, a stormwater drainage system, and works under the Swachh Bharat Mission to improve sanitation infrastructure.

The large-scale push is expected to address long-standing gaps in sewage and rainwater disposal systems, while also giving Mahemdavad a more modern urban identity. DeshGujarat