Poor drainage keeps Ahmedabad’s Bopal-Ghuma waterlogged

Heavy rain has once again inundated roads and residential areas in Bopal, Ghuma, Ambli and nearby parts of western Ahmedabad, highlighting persistent problems with drainage infrastructure in the rapidly growing urban region.

The recurring waterlogging has reached a point where Union home minister Amit Shah has sought a permanent solution from the Gujarat government and Ahmedabad’s civic authorities. The Times of India reported that inadequate drainage remains at the centre of the problem.

Bopal and Ghuma have experienced rapid development over the years, with residential and commercial construction expanding across the area. However, civic infrastructure has struggled to keep pace with the growth.

The flooding has affected roads as well as residential areas, while nearby Ambli and other parts of western Ahmedabad have also faced waterlogging during periods of heavy rainfall.

The latest situation has renewed concerns about whether the existing stormwater drainage network is adequate for the area’s level of urban development.

A permanent solution has now been sought from the state government and Ahmedabad civic authorities, following repeated episodes of flooding during the monsoon.

The issue is not new. Earlier reports have highlighted how rapid urbanisation in Bopal and Ghuma took place before adequate underground civic infrastructure was established, leaving parts of the area particularly vulnerable to heavy rainfall.

The latest flooding has once again brought the drainage shortcomings into focus as construction and population growth continue across western Ahmedabad.