Ahmedabad’s traffic burden rises as infrastructure struggles to keep pace

A sharp rise in the number of vehicles in Ahmedabad has raised concerns over mounting pressure on the city’s road infrastructure, with experts warning of worsening traffic congestion if capacity is not expanded in time.

As per data from regional transport offices, nearly 2.77 lakh new vehicles are added to the city’s roads annually. In the first three months of 2026 alone, more than 85,000 vehicles have been registered, indicating that the yearly figure could soon cross three lakh.

Figures from the Subhash Bridge and Vastral RTOs show that over 11.04 lakh vehicles, including two-wheelers, cars, auto-rickshaws and heavy vehicles, have been added in the past four years.

Despite this surge, road development has not kept pace, with only a limited number of new or upgraded roads being constructed. Several infrastructure projects have also faced delays, while some newly built roads have reportedly become inadequate within a short period due to rising traffic volumes.

Urban planners point out that without long-term planning and expansion of road capacity, Ahmedabad risks facing chronic traffic congestion. The lack of sufficient flyovers, underpasses, parking facilities and efficient traffic management systems has already led to frequent bottlenecks across major and internal roads.

While authorities continue to promote select stretches as ‘model’ or ‘iconic’ roads, residents say the broader road network remains under strain.

Experts warn that unless comprehensive planning measures are undertaken, including road widening, improved traffic regulation and infrastructure upgrades, Ahmedabad’s roads could effectively turn into parking zones in the future due to the sheer volume of vehicles.