Rs 300cr for SP Ring Road expansion in Auda budget

Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (Auda) has approved a record Rs 2,231.23 crore budget for 2025-26, with a strong focus on infrastructure expansion, particularly the widening of the Sardar Patel Ring Road.
In its board meeting on Friday, Auda projected a revenue of Rs 2,366.23 crore for the year, against which it plans to spend Rs 2,231.23 crore, leaving a surplus of Rs 135 crore. Auda CEO D P Desai stated that this is the highest budget ever approved by the authority.
A key highlight is the six-lane expansion of the Sardar Patel Ring Road under the hybrid annuity model (HAM), with Auda taking over toll collection. Unlike the earlier BOT model where a private company managed tolls, the HAM model allows Auda to generate direct revenue. The project is estimated at Rs 2,293 crore, with Rs 300 crore allocated for it in the 2025-26 budget.
Auda's revenue projections include Rs 129.77 crore from development permissions, Gujarat Regularization of Unauthorized Development Act (Gruda) fees and township fees, along with Rs 535.08 crore from govt schemes and grants. The authority also expects to generate Rs 900 crore from plot sales, Rs 630.03 crore from an ADB bank loan, Rs 50 crore from fixed deposit interest and Rs 80 crore from deposits and advances.
Expenditure plans for 2025-26 include Rs 300 crore for the Sardar Patel Ring Road expansion, Rs 250 crore for road construction in growth centres like Kalol and Sanand, and Rs 200 crore for drainage networks and sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Khodiyar, Lilapur, Jaspur, Manipur and Sanand.
Village development under the Sadbhavana Fund will receive Rs 32.05 crore, while Rs 3 crore is allocated for library construction, Rs 10 crore for Auda bhavan construction and Rs 15 crore for plot security. Additional expenditures include Rs 3 crore for street lighting, Rs 7 crore for tree planting, Rs 2.50 crore for a biodiversity park, and Rs 5 crore for development plan activities.
Further allocations include Rs 10 crore for stormwater networks, Rs 81.50 crore for bridge work, Rs 60 crore for Jal Jeevan Mission and Rs 50 crore for water projects in Shela, Manipur and Sanand. Affordable housing projects will receive Rs 55 crore, and Rs 50 crore is earmarked for lake and garden development.
Auda also unveiled plans to develop Sanand as a satellite town, with the Manipur-Godhavi TP Scheme No. 429 area set to become a model township scheme. This model scheme will incorporate comprehensive underground networks and roads, including cycle tracks, footpaths, street lighting, junction development, utility ducts for gas and telecom lines, lake development, parks and gardens, and digital infrastructure.