Gandhinagar: The Gujarat govt is preparing to roll out a wide-ranging policy aimed at fixing some of Ahmedabad’s most persistent urban problems: traffic congestion, road safety gaps, encroachments and the cattle menace. The announcement is expected soon after the new elected body of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is constituted in the coming days.The move comes in response to rapidly rising vehicle numbers and increasing pressure on public spaces. The idea is to bring in a uniform, city-wide framework that protects public streets from encroachment, gives priority to pedestrians and public transport, and manages parking in a more organised and enforceable way, said sources in the govt. Under the proposed policy, a special committee will be constituted under the co-chairmanship of the municipal commissioner and police commissioner to “function as the apex body for policy coordination on all matters covered under the policy”, the draft of the policy said.Sources in the govt said the policy will focus on five major aspects: engineering, enforcement, encouragement, education and evaluation. The special committee will meet at least once every two months to review progress of implementation of the policy in Ahmedabad. “The policy is expected to be announced soon after constitution of the elected body of the AMC. Ahmedabad is scheduled to host several international sporting events, including 2030 CWG. A number of steps will be taken to address issues plaguing Ahmedabad city,” an official stated. Among the major interventions planned are redesigning key junctions to ease congestion, implementing an adaptive traffic control system (ATCS) to manage signals in real time, and developing select stretches as “iconic roads”. The plan also includes construction of railway overbridges at five crossings, maximising parking infrastructure, and measures to encourage greater use of public transport.A strong focus has been placed on reclaiming public spaces. The draft policy proposes a zero-tolerance approach to encroachments on roads, footpaths, service lanes, medians and open spaces across AMC limits. Officials say this is aimed at ensuring that citizens can use public infrastructure without obstruction.The timing of the policy is significant, with Ahmedabad preparing to host major international sporting events. Authorities believe the city will need a more efficient and disciplined urban mobility system to handle the expected surge in activity.
