God’s Plan? Religious Encroachment Raises Underpass Cost by ₹1.03 Cr in Gota

An alleged failure by the Railways to remove a religious encroachment on its land has increased the cost of Ahmedabad's Vande Mataram underpass project by ₹1.03 crore, forcing the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) to redesign part of the project.

The revised plan was necessitated after the proposed site for a stormwater pumping station could not be made available due to the encroachment.

Railways Unable to Remove Encroachment

The four-lane underpass is being constructed on the road connecting Vande Mataram Shrifal Flats to Gota SG Highway in Chandlodiya Ward.

To prevent waterlogging during the monsoon, AMC had planned to build a stormwater pumping station along with a 900 mm diameter drainage pipeline on railway land.

However, the site was occupied by a religious structure that had allegedly come up as an encroachment. Despite repeated requests from AMC, the Railways could not remove the structure.

Instead, the Railways allotted an alternative site behind the existing structure, requiring AMC to redesign the project.

How the Project Became Costlier

The redesign has significantly increased construction costs.

Key Changes

• 900 mm drainage pipeline extended by 216 metres
• 50-metre pipeline to be laid using an expensive pushing method
• Pumping station shifted behind the existing religious structure

Officials said the revised alignment has substantially increased the project's overall cost.

Budget Rises to ₹5.60 Crore

The project was originally awarded to Shivam Builders in September 2025 at a cost of ₹4.56 crore.

Following the redesign, the revised project cost has increased to ₹5.60 crore, adding an extra burden of ₹1.03 crore on the civic body.

Completion Target Extended

According to AMC officials, work on the relocated pumping station has now commenced.

The civic body has set January 2027 as the revised deadline for completing the underpass project.