Ahmedabad's Transformation: From Khel Mahakumbh to CWG 2030

Ahmedabad: Exactly fifteen years ago, on November 19, 2010, then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi launched Khel Mahakumbh to promote sports across the state. This initiative laid the groundwork for the city's future sporting ambitions.

On November 26 this year, Gujarat's Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi took to social media to announce that 'India has officially been awarded the hosting rights for the 2030 Commonwealth Games.' While expectations had been building for some time, the formal announcement in Glasgow has now pushed Ahmedabad onto a fast-track development path ahead of the games four years from now.

According to CREDAI Gujarat President Tejas Joshi, the event will trigger a major infrastructure upgrade in the city alongside strong growth in the real estate and hospitality sectors. 'Ahmedabad is already a smart city, and now with the Games, a major restructuring is on the way,' Joshi told ET. Connectivity and road infrastructure will see significant improvement, he said, adding that real estate in the city could expand by 25-30% in the next couple of years.

'Ahmedabad is opening up as a major investment option for players across the country, and one can expect considerable migration to the city for new opportunities,' he said, noting that this would also boost affordable housing. The city and adjoining areas currently clock 35,000-40,000 housing units annually, and he expects this number to rise sharply.

The state government, he added, is focusing on seamless mobility. 'We already have a Comprehensive Mobility Plan under implementation that will integrate travel across metro, BRTS, and other modes,' said Banchhanidhi Pani, Commissioner, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, who was part of the delegation to Glasgow. Road-widening and pending metro work are being completed, he said, adding that with a Climate Control Cell in place, measures are underway to ensure cleaner air.

A major new sports facility - the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex (Naranpura Sports Complex) - inaugurated last September by the Union Home Minister, is expected to play a central role. Built at a cost of ₹824 crore, the complex spans 82,507 sq. m with a built-up area of 1.18 lakh sq. m, features four major buildings, six functional zones, and extensive parking, and is billed as the largest sports complex in India. Designed to international standards aimed at the 2036 Olympics, it has already been approved to host global events such as the Asian Aquatics Championships and the World Weightlifting Championships.

The city is also gearing up to develop two major integrated sports hubs - including the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave (SVPSE), which will serve as the central hub for the Commonwealth Games and anchor Gujarat's long-term sporting ecosystem. The enclave is planned to house an arena, aquatic centre, tennis courts, training zones, athlete villages, and facilities for swimming, basketball, cricket, artistic gymnastics, diving, and volleyball. Construction is scheduled to begin in April next year and is expected to be completed by late 2028 or early 2029.

A second sports hub at the Police Academy in Karai is set to host high-performance disciplines within a similar timeframe.

The hospitality sector is also bracing for rapid expansion. Industry leaders estimate that the Games will generate more than 50,000 jobs in Ahmedabad alone. Narendra Somani, President of the Hotel and Restaurants Association (HRA) of Ahmedabad, said the city currently lacks adequate hotel capacity for the expected surge in visitors. 'We will need an additional 4,000 rooms in the five-star category and around 6,000 rooms in two- and three-star hotels,' he said, adding that at least six top-end hotels are already under construction and many more are likely to follow. 'At the very least, this will create 50,000 new jobs - and the number could be much higher.'

Somani said the industry now expects the state government to introduce a policy to support the upcoming boom. 'These developments, once completed, will also strengthen Ahmedabad's bid for the Olympic Games,' he added. Earlier in Glasgow, Ashwani Kumar, Principal Secretary (Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities), had also linked the state's long-term ambition to host the 2036 Olympics, calling the Commonwealth Games a strategic stepping stone.