AMC to Spend ₹240 Crore on Fresh GIS Mapping of Ahmedabad Despite Earlier Survey

Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has awarded a ₹240-crore contract for a fresh GIS survey of the city, despite crores already being spent on earlier mapping of water and drainage networks.

The new project will create a comprehensive 3D digital database covering properties, roads and underground utilities across Ahmedabad. The exercise is being undertaken after the earlier GIS mapping was found to have gaps, particularly in the mapping of individual water and drainage lines.

The contract has been awarded to M/s Genesys International Corporation Limited. According to sources, the new system is also linked to changes in the corporation's working process, under which bill payments will be based on GIS-linked data.

Why Is AMC Conducting GIS Mapping Again?

Ahmedabad already has a GIS-based database for several civic utilities, but the earlier exercise did not cover every water and drainage line.

Sources said mapping of each individual line was not mandatory when the earlier survey was conducted. The requirement has now changed, with the corporation seeking more detailed GIS data for its utility network.

The new system will require water, sewerage and other civic infrastructure to be accurately mapped and linked to specific geographical locations. Sources also said that establishing a dedicated GIS cell has become necessary under World Bank-related requirements.

As a result, AMC has decided to undertake a large-scale survey covering the entire city.

₹240 Crore Project to Create Digital Map of Ahmedabad

The new contract will result in a 3D digital map covering approximately 625 square kilometres of Ahmedabad.

The database will bring information on land, properties, water supply, drainage and rainwater disposal infrastructure onto a common digital platform.

One of the largest components of the project will be the geo-coding of around 25 lakh properties across the city. Each property will be assigned a digital identity, allowing the corporation to connect property-related information with its exact location.

The system could also help AMC identify properties that have not yet been included in its property assessment records. This, in turn, could help the civic body expand its property tax base and improve revenue collection.

Underground Water, Drainage Lines to Be Mapped

The survey will extend beyond properties and roads to underground civic infrastructure.

The location and depth of water supply, sewerage and stormwater drainage lines will be recorded digitally. Other underground cables and utilities will also be mapped, along with information on infrastructure located on either side of roads.

Such data is expected to give AMC departments a common reference point when planning construction, maintenance and utility-related works.

The digital database will also be integrated with several existing civic systems, including property tax, online complaints, work orders, legal matters, audit processes, hole bookings and water and drainage operations.

Drone Survey and Road Corridor Scanning Planned

E-Governance and Electrical and Material Procurement Committee chairman Hitendra Parmar said information about properties and utilities would be collected using drones and other advanced surveying equipment.

An elevation model and orthophoto covering the 625-square-kilometre area will be prepared as part of the project.

To improve survey accuracy, 40 primary survey stations and 200 secondary survey stations will be established across the city.

AMC will also use specialised vans for road corridor scanning. Panoramic images and street-view data will be generated as part of the digital mapping exercise.

25 Lakh Properties to Be Geo-Coded in Two Phases

The property mapping work will be completed in two stages.

The first phase will cover around nine lakh properties, while the second phase will cover approximately 16 lakh properties.

Together, the two phases will create a digital database covering around 25 lakh properties across Ahmedabad.

The entire mapping exercise is targeted for completion within two and a half years. The contract also includes five years of operation and maintenance after completion of the project.

Questions Over Earlier GIS Expenditure

The fresh ₹240-crore project has raised questions about the usefulness of AMC's earlier GIS expenditure.

The corporation had previously spent crores of rupees on mapping its water and drainage networks. However, sources said the earlier exercise did not cover all lines and was carried out under less stringent mapping requirements.

The new system will require a much more detailed digital record of civic utilities, making the fresh survey necessary from the corporation's current operational perspective.

The key question now is how much of the earlier GIS data can be incorporated into the new database and whether any existing information can be reused instead of being surveyed again.

The new project is expected to give AMC a more comprehensive digital picture of Ahmedabad's civic infrastructure, but its ₹240-crore cost has also put renewed focus on the effectiveness and long-term utility of the corporation's earlier GIS mapping work.