Ahmedabad: A sporting dream is driving a sweeping urban upgrade. As the host of the 2030 Commonwealth Games and an aspirant for the 2036 Olympics, Ahmedabad is gearing up for a defining decade as the state budget commits Rs 1,278 crore to build international standard sports facilities and upgrade core infrastructure. Metro corridors, drinking water pipelines and control centres are part of the same blueprint. The message is clear: sporting prestige must rest on civic strength.The 2026-27 budget presented by finance minister Kanu Desai on Wednesday sets out an ambitious plan to make Gujarat’s commercial capital Games-ready. The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave alone will receive Rs 500 crore to anchor the upgrade.Transport and mobility form the backbone of the plan. The budget provides Rs 177 crore to expand the ring road and initiates the conversion of SG Highway into a ‘green urban highway’, backed by Rs 100 crore. Metro Rail funding continues at scale: Rs 676.40 crore has been allocated for Phase I operations and Rs 21.12 crore for Phase II. Initial provisions have also been made for two new metro links — Rs 40 crore for Koteshwar Road to Sardar Patel Airport and Rs 42.90 crore for Thaltej to Godhavi — aimed at connecting the airport and fringe areas to the broader transit system. Overall, Rs 2,217 crore has been provided in 2026-27 for Gujarat Metro Rail projects to expand the Ahmedabad and Surat Metro systems.Urban resilience and basic infrastructure also feature prominently. A provision of Rs 800 crore has been made as external funding support for the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation under the Gujarat Resilient Cities Partnership Programme and for Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (Auda) areas. For long-term drinking water supply, Rs 1,044 crore has been allocated for a bulk pipeline from Dhanki to Navda to serve Ahmedabad and other districts. Additionally, the Peri-Urban Livability Improvement Project, supported by a Rs 400 crore international loan, will provide drinking water infrastructure and pumping stations to Bopal, Sanand, Godhavi and Shela.Public safety and governance systems are set for expansion. An integrated control and command centre has been allocated Rs 100 crore, while another Rs 100 crore has been set aside for an adaptive traffic control system to improve mobility management and security. These will be supported by the Sugam project, which includes specialized police posts and vehicle tracking systems. New police stations are planned in Vastral, Hanspura and Motera, and new ‘P’, ‘R’ and ‘S’ police divisions will be created to decentralize policing further. Ahmedabad has also been selected as a pilot city to introduce premium and express services for vehicle registrations and licences.BOX1. Sporting chance• Rs 1,278 crore for international standard sports complexes, stadiums and modern public transport • Rs 500 crore for SVP Sports Enclave • Rs 101 crore for sports infra connecting Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar 2. Urban infra and connectivity • Rs 100 crore to develop SG Highway as ‘green urban highway’• Rs 25 crore under Van Kavach initiative for greening efforts 3. Water resources • Rs 624 crore to complete weir/barrages on the Sabarmati• Rs 1,044 crore for Dhanki-Navda pipeline to meet long-term drinking water needs in Ahmedabad and nearby districts 4. Services• Expansion of revenue building at Daskroi • Ahmedabad chosen as pilot city for premium, express services for vehicle registrations and licences
