AMC to monitor Ahmedabad rains through 1,790 cameras under pre-monsoon plan

The Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) will monitor rain-related conditions across roads, junctions, underpasses and other vulnerable locations through 1,790 cameras this monsoon season as part of its pre-monsoon preparedness measures.

The announcement was made after a joint meeting of AMC office-bearers and officials on Friday to review the city’s readiness ahead of the monsoon. The surveillance network includes 1,746 Smart City cameras and 44 cameras installed at underpasses, with monitoring to be carried out from the Paldi Control Room.

The move comes as Ahmedabad continues to face recurring waterlogging problems during even moderate rainfall. In recent years, several roads and low-lying areas have witnessed severe water accumulation even after short spells of rain, disrupting traffic and affecting thousands of residents.

Real-time monitoring through control room dashboard

AMC officials said a dedicated dashboard has been created at the main control room to enable real-time monitoring during rainfall.

According to officials, if water accumulates at any location, alerts will be sent immediately to the concerned zonal and ward-level officers through WhatsApp. Technical and experienced staff have also been deployed to support field operations during emergencies.

Catchpit cleaning work continues

The civic body said the first round of cleaning of all 72,586 catchpits across the city has been completed.

A second round of cleaning is currently underway and will be followed by a third round before the peak monsoon period. Officials maintained that preparations are progressing as planned.

Catchpit maintenance is considered one of the key measures to prevent flooding and improve stormwater drainage during heavy rainfall.

Mayor issues detailed written directions

Ahmedabad Mayor Hitesh Barot has written a six-page letter to the Municipal Commissioner outlining department-wise instructions and recommendations related to monsoon preparedness.

The letter covers measures to be taken by various civic departments ahead of the rainy season. Such directions are often communicated during review meetings or through departmental discussions, making the detailed written communication notable.

More than 100 waterlogging-prone locations remain

During the review meeting, AMC officials said the city previously had 147 locations identified as vulnerable to waterlogging.

According to the civic body, corrective measures have resolved issues at 39 of those sites. That leaves more than 100 locations where water accumulation may still occur during rainfall.

The effectiveness of the measures will be tested as the city enters the monsoon season, when several roads and underpasses have historically experienced flooding during intense rain spells.

AMC’s pre-monsoon preparedness at a glance

25 monsoon control rooms

42 automatic rain gauges

13 analogue rain data loggers

26 heavy pumps installed at underpasses

28 tree-trimming vans

240 pumping stations and sumps maintained

40 vehicle-mounted heavy de-watering pumps

1,790 cameras monitoring roads and junctions

72,586 catchpits cleaned in the first phase

3,237 trees trimmed

43 discharge points into the Sabarmati River