Ahmedabad road construction costs rise to ₹24 crore per km, scrutiny over civic spending

Road construction costs in Ahmedabad have climbed sharply, with expenditure ranging from ₹4 crore to nearly ₹24 crore per kilometre, according to budget documents of the Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC). The figures, disclosed in the civic body’s 2025–26 budget, have sparked debate over infrastructure planning and the utilisation of public funds.

Under the current budget, the AMC has allocated ₹250 crore for the construction of eight “iconic” roads. Budget data indicates that nearly ₹23.98 crore is being spent on constructing a single kilometre under this category.

 High-cost stretches identified

Among the major stretches where high-cost road development is underway are:

Iskcon to Pakwan Junction

Visat Circle to Zundal Circle

Visat Circle to Tapovan Circle

Paldi to Wadaj Circle

Naroda Muktidham to Dahegam Junction

Datt Mandir Connecting Corridor in Sarkhej

Zaveri Circle to SP Ring Road in Jodhpur

 In addition to iconic roads, the municipal budget provides for theme-based roads centred on sports, education and heritage. Allocations also cover projects such as Khari Cut Canal Road, white-topping roads, the North–South Corridor, “Road for Better City” initiatives, and development works along SG Highway.

The total allocation for these road-related projects stands at ₹1,540.73 crore. The amount has been further increased by the Standing Committee.

Average cost pegged at ₹5.53 crore per km

The AMC states that during the current financial year it constructed roads spanning 387 kilometres. The works reportedly involved the use of approximately 8.57 lakh metric tonnes of hot-mix material, with a total expenditure of ₹2,139 crore.

Based on these figures, the average cost of road construction works out to about ₹5.53 crore per kilometre.

Estimates suggest that nearly ₹2,000 crore is spent annually on road construction and maintenance in Ahmedabad, excluding routine repair work, which also involves significant expenditure.

Planning and coordination under question

Authorities maintain that the projects form part of a broader vision to transform Ahmedabad into a world-class city, supported by grants from the Central and State Governments.

However, concerns have been raised about execution and inter-departmental coordination. Newly constructed roads are often dug up soon after completion for drainage lines, water pipelines, cable installations and other utility works. Such repeated excavation damages fresh road surfaces, disrupts traffic and causes public inconvenience.

Critics argue that inadequate coordination between departments leads to avoidable duplication of work and wasteful spending of taxpayers’ money. Residents have also questioned whether higher expenditure necessarily results in durable and sustainable infrastructure.

 With thousands of crores allocated annually to road development, questions around transparency, accountability and long-term planning are likely to remain central to the debate over Ahmedabad’s infrastructure priorities.