GANDHINAGAR: Ahmedabad could soon grow much bigger, as the state govt moots a proposal to fold in five surrounding municipalities into the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). According to top govt sources, the five municipalities which are proposed to be included within AMC limits are Sanand, Mehemdabad, Bareja, Kalol, and Dahegam.
The timing of the merger of five municipalities within AMC limits is vital, considering the municipal corporation elections in Jan 2026. The proposed integration would significantly increase Ahmedabad’s geographical footprint and population base.
“The primary motivation behind this initiative is to ensure coordinated urban development. These areas have witnessed substantial growth and require systematic planning for infrastructure and essential services. The merger will bring these regions under a unified administrative framework, potentially improving service delivery and infrastructure development,” official sources informed.
Urban clusters like Sanand and Kalol have witnessed rapid growth in both residential and industrial units over the past years. Sanand, which has for long established itself as an automobile industry hub, has seen growth of semiconductor and other specialized industries as well. Similarly, in Kalol, there has been a huge spurt in both residential societies and industrial units. “These municipalities will face an uphill task in matching the pace of growth of these centres with infrastructure development like roads, drainage and other amenities. Having a synced development approach will ensure that areas under these municipalities will get upgraded infrastructure at the earliest,” said sources.The proposal, however, will pose several new challenges. The AMC will need to allocate substantial resources for upgrading infrastructure in newly added areas. These include water supply, sewerage systems, road networks, and public transportation. “The financial implications for providing these services will be significant and the AMC will have to invest heavily in bringing these areas up to urban standards,” sources said.
“When the exercise is completed, residents in newly merged areas might face higher municipal taxes, which could lead to initial resistance. The AMC will have to develop a balanced approach to taxation while ensuring service quality,” official sources informed.
Some of the administrative challenges that the civic body will face will be reorganizing ward boundaries to ensure appropriate representation for new areas. “The corporation will also have to expand its workforce and establish new offices to serve these regions effectively,” said officials close to the development.
“The merger proposal will require careful evaluation of factors like infrastructure requirements, financial implications, administrative capacity, public opinion and service delivery mechanisms,” said officials. Sources said that the success of previous mergers like Bopal-Ghuma in 2020 will provide insights for the proposed expansion. “However, each area presents unique challenges and requirements. The AMC would need to develop specific strategies for different regions based on their current development levels and future needs,” said sources.
