The road network in Ahmedabad spanning 2,635 km has been riddled with a total of 55,000 potholes over the last three years after the monsoon, according to Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC).

Even with one month left in this year’s monsoon season, these sources acknowledged that 19,000 potholes were formed on Ahmedabad roads this year.

However, when asked about the amount required by the AMC to fill the  potholes this year, officials, chairpersons, and members of the Standing Committee stated that they did not have an amount since the expenses are calculated on a zone-wise basis.

6,000 potholes

AMC  officials, aiming to conceal the expenses incurred in filling the potholes, claim that the zone-wise expenses are calculated separately, and determining the exact amount will take time as precise calculations are needed. The chairperson of the Road Committee mentioned that over 6,000 potholes were filled between Aug 23 and 31.

The Road Committee of the AMC is responsible for approving proposals related to the construction of new roads, resurfacing old roads, and filling potholes in the city. When asked about the approximate cost incurred in filling the 19,626 potholes on various roads in the city this year, Road Committee Chairman Jayesh Patel said, “Since the work is done zone-wise, it is difficult to obtain the exact cost of filling the potholes at the moment.”

Apart from the rain, the work of various agencies is also responsible for the potholes

The road network within the jurisdiction of the AMC totals 2,635 km. Every year, roads spanning 800 to 1,000 km are dug up by utility cable agencies, gas agencies, and other agencies for laying or upgrading cables and for fault repairs.

Additionally, the AMC itself digs up roads for laying or upgrading sewer and water lines or stormwater drains. However, after the work is completed by these agencies, proper supervision of the refilling work at the zone level does not occur as it should.

Annually, a total of ₹1,000 crore is spent from the budget on the city's extensive road network.

Out of this budget, only ₹400 crore, or 40%, is used for new road construction.

The remaining ₹200 crore are allocated for resurfacing (repairs, post-grinding maintenance, or filling monsoon potholes), and ₹250 crore come as a grant from the state government.

The majority of this grant is allocated to filling potholes that emerge during the monsoon season, particularly following the declaration that all potholes will be addressed before Diwali. However, the specific expenditure on filling each pothole remains unclear.

Also read:

Ahmedabad riddled with 19,000 potholes after rains wash away roads