Fix Potholes Or Face Action: AMC Chief Slams Negligent Officials, Scraps ₹30-Crore City Gate Project In Major Overhaul

The Municipal Commissioner of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) cracked the whip on negligent civic staff during Wednesday’s weekly review meeting, pulling up senior officials over sluggish pothole repairs and issuing a strict warning against making baseless excuses for administrative failures.

The confrontation turned heated when Deputy Municipal Commissioner Nilesh Patel blamed raw material transport delays for slow road repairs in his zone. However, Additional Engineer Pranay Shah countered the claim directly before the chief, clarifying that adequate materials were being supplied continuously—exposing the official's excuse. Flustered by the lapse, the Commissioner directed officers to drop stall tactics, demonstrate genuine sincerity, and accelerate repair work across the city to ease public distress.

Heavy Penalties Ordered For Negligent Contractors

Addressing deteriorating road conditions in the South Zone, the Commissioner took serious note of unpatched stretches falling under the Defect Liability Period (DLP). He instructed departments to slap heavy financial penalties on responsible private contractors without delaying maintenance. The chief emphasized that ongoing penalty proceedings must not stall patch-up work meant for public convenience.

Taking swift disciplinary action elsewhere, the chief issued a formal show-cause notice to a Deputy Engineer in the South Zone after a basic drainage cover replacement was delayed by seven agonizing days.

₹30-Crore Entry Gate Scrapped For Green Entrances

In a major policy shift, the civic chief officially scrapped a ₹30-crore project previously sanctioned by former Commissioner M. Thennarasan to construct ornate 'City Entry' gates. The funds will now be redirected toward dense plantation drives, creating vibrant green corridors at entry points into Ahmedabad instead of concrete structures.

To curb damage to municipal infrastructure, utility agencies handling gas, electricity, and telecommunications will now have to submit an annual advance work schedule. The AMC warned that unauthorized road cutting and destruction of paver blocks will attract severe penalties and legal action.

Tax Rebates For Free Parking And New Integrated Command Centre

In a bid to resolve chronic traffic and parking snags, the AMC announced property tax relief for private property owners who open up their spaces for free public parking.

Additionally, the Commissioner approved plans for a centralized, four-storey Integrated Command Centre building. The state-of-the-art facility will consolidate monitoring operations for traffic management, smart city initiatives, CCTV surveillance networks, water distribution, and drainage systems under a single roof.