Ahmedabad: AMC has spent more than Rs 2,000 crore over the past five years on laying new stormwater and drainage lines and desilting the old ones, but the number of flood-prone spots in the city continues to rise.During the 2025 monsoon, AMC identified 147 flood-prone spots across Ahmedabad. Before this year’s monsoon, AMC claimed to have eliminated 39 waterlogging spots —including 34 in the western part of the city — cutting the total spots to 108.Yet, during Friday morning downpours, 235 waterlogging complaints were registered. Flood-prone spots this year are veering towards 200.Sources indicate that before the 2024 monsoon, AMC had identified 125 flood-prone spots, which rose to 147 in 2025.That year, floodwaters took more than five hours to recede at over 10 locations. In the western part of the city, water did not recede for over five hours at two spots in Bopal and Ghuma; two spots in Gota; and one spot in Bodakdev.In the east, prolonged waterlogging of over five hours was recorded at one spot in Naroda, three in Saraspur-Rakhial, and one in Bapunagar.Box ItemWhy does the city sink?Inadequate stormwater networkBetween 2014 and 2024, AMC did not implement major stormwater network projects; work has been under way between 2024 and 2026. The city’s total road network is 2,732km but the stormwater network covers just 1,010km. So, the city relies heavily on the 3,570-km-long drainage network to carry rainwaterDevelopment permissions fast, planning slowAMC is only now considering withholding development permissions for new buildings in areas lacking stormwater and drainage networks. Over the past decade, development permissions were routinely granted to new constructions in non-TP (Town Planning) and TP areas even where underground networks did not existNo impact studies of new development projects:A project to widen SG Highway to six lanes at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore is currently in progress, and Auda is executing the six-laning of SP Ring Road for Rs 2,200 crore. However, no impact assessments have been conducted to evaluate how new road developments will affect stormwater drainage mechanismsNo impact study on filling of Chandrabhaga nala:As part of the Gandhi Ashram redevelopment project, AMC filled the natural Chandrabhaga drain and built a new stormwater duct in its place. Additionally, Kharicut Canal and Gota-Godhavi Canal redevelopment projects were implemented. However, no studies were conducted to assess how these alterations affect rainwater dischargeLack of experienced officersDrainage and stormwater department of AMC suffers from a shortage of experienced technical officers. Previously, senior officials from AMC’s own engineering cadre were appointed as deputy municipal commissioners. Currently, state govt-deputed administrative officers are put in charge. They are transferred before they understand drainage networks