Ahmedabad: Opposition leader in Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, Shehzad Khan Pathan on Friday proposed amendments worth Rs 652 crore in the civic body’s Rs 18,518 crore budget for 2026-27. Among his suggestions were removing the BRTS corridor from the city’s congested areas and appointing a Lokpal to curb corruption in AMC. Other recommendations included adding Rs 200 crore to VS Hospital’s budget, Rs 69 crore to the school board budget, and Rs 1 crore to the MJ Library budget.Pathan stated, “AMC’s budget focuses on Commonwealth Games but neglects the concerns of common people. The city does not receive adequate supply of drinking water at sufficient pressure. Millions are spent on roadworks, yet citizens do not get roads of good quality. Hence, suggestions for works worth Rs 652 crore were proposed.”
He added, “These include ensuring a 24-hour water supply at sufficient pressure, covering 100% of the city with a stormwater and drainage network, creating a Miracle Garden on the Sabarmati Riverfront, building a multi-storeyed modern school and a high-tech library on the riverfront, allocating a separate budget to reduce water pollution, developing religious sites, activating all closed French wells in the Sabarmati River, and constructing amphitheatres in each zone. Before demolishing slums, alternative arrangements should be provided for the displaced, an event management cell should be established, property tax relief should be given to women entrepreneurs, and instead of 18%, interest on outstanding property tax should be collected at 7%.”
