The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $181 million loan to improve urban livability and mobility in Ahmedabad city’s peri-urban areas. The project aims to enhance urban services and governance for the urban poor, women, and migrant workers. It includes the construction of 166 km of water distribution networks, 126 km of climate-resilient stormwater drainage, 300 km of sewerage systems, and four sewage treatment plants. Additionally, the project supports the improvement of 10 junctions along the existing Sardar Patel Ring Road to enhance the connectivity of peri-urban areas to Ahmedabad city.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will assist in strengthening the capacity of the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority and other urban local bodies in technology-based urban planning. This will include climate change and disaster-resilient infrastructure that promotes environmental and social safeguards, gender equality, and social inclusion.
The project aims to support land development plans and town planning schemes that integrate these elements and can be replicated by other states to enhance more planned urban development and densification through agglomeration.
The project will also build the government agencies’ capacity in financial planning, revenue enhancement, and infrastructure asset operations. Awareness-raising activities will be conducted in communities to encourage water conservation, health, and hygiene. Women’s self-help groups will be trained in water supply operations. The project will support the development of recycling treated sewage for industrial use through a public–private partnership.
