Ahmedabad is emphasising developmental issues such as introduction of better public spaces, augmenting water and drainage supplies, introducing 24×7 water supply , developing quality public spaces, paid parking, ambient air action plan, electronic surveillance and introduction of new health initiatives in this year’s budget. It also offers civic services on cellphones.

The municipality has submitted to the state government a Rs 20 billion water supply augmentation plan which involved the laying of new water trunk lines from the Narmada canal to water treatment centres. This also involved a plan for creating a 15-day reservoir facility for the city. It is also planning to introduce new environment friendly measures for congested areas of the city.

A senior AMC official said that Patel-dominated areas and those living in slums and economically weaker sections areas will receive more attention in this budget.

Among the plans proposed under the Smart City project initiative are a 1,000 km optic fibre network across the city for intelligent transit management, surveillance and a central command and control centre that will integrate all civic amenities.