Failed Rain Forecasts Force AMC to Review C-DAC Software After Sunny Afternoon Contradicts Heavy Alert

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has ordered an immediate review of forecasting software managed by the Pune-based Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) following repeated inaccurate weather predictions across the city.

The decision came after civic authorities issued a public advisory based on C-DAC inputs, urging residents to stay indoors and avoid waterlogging-prone areas ahead of anticipated heavy rainfall in the afternoon. Instead of the predicted downpour, bright sunshine covered the city, triggering sharp questions over the reliability of the specialized ward-level forecasting system.

Advisory Backfires as Weather Forecasts Miss Mark Again

The premature public caution followed a spell of heavy morning rain, after which C-DAC systems signaled a secondary wave around 4 PM. Deputy Municipal Commissioners relayed the warning to citizens, requesting them to restrict unnecessary movement.

This is not the first instance where the system failed to deliver accurate localized data:

• July Misstep: C-DAC issued a heavy rainfall warning following a major storm in July, prompting emergency preparations across civic zones, but the expected downpour never materialized.
• Ward-Level Discrepancy: The hyper-local forecasting model, designed to track micro-weather patterns down to specific municipal wards and exact timeframes, has repeatedly produced unexpected discrepancies in recent weeks.

Financial Negotiations On Hold Over Unpaid Rs 19 Lakh Bill

AMC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Pune institute to gain precise, area-specific weather intelligence for urban flood management. However, financial settlements under the agreement remain unresolved.

Official sources confirmed that C-DAC billed the civic body approximately Rs 19 lakh for operational and software expenses. AMC has not released any funds to the institute to date, with financial negotiations still underway amidst growing concerns over performance metrics.

Standing Committee Demands Technical Audit

The issue sparked heated discussions during a recent AMC Standing Committee meeting. Standing Committee Chairman Kamlesh Patel acknowledged that C-DAC's ward-specific, time-bound forecasts proved highly effective and accurate last year, which prompted the civic body to extend the arrangement for the current season.

Patel stated that instructions have now been issued to thoroughly review the performance of C-DAC's software. Technical teams will evaluate the forecasting framework to identify system glitches, calibrate data processing models, and ensure the municipal body receives dependable weather intelligence moving forward.