Sports activity centres to come up under 9 bridges in Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is turning unused spaces beneath city bridges into modern sports activity centres, as part of its ambitious plan to develop Ahmedabad into an international-level Sports City.

The civic body has identified nine bridges across the city where such facilities will be developed. Two centres — under the Sims Hospital railway overbridge and Ranip underbridge — are already operational, while work has begun under Laxmanrao Vakeel Saheb Bridge, Anjali Bridge and Ghodasar Bridge.

An AMC official said that bids will soon be invited for facilities under the Dinesh Chambers flyover, the Guruji overbridge, the Gujarat College railway overbridge, and the Rajendra Park flyover. All projects will be executed under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.

The centres are equipped with a range of sporting and recreational options. The facility under Sims Hospital railway overbridge offers air hockey, table tennis, chess, carrom, box cricket, pickleball, basketball, pool table, table football (foosball), and ludo, while the Ranip centre mirrors this lineup minus foosball and ludo. “Broader infrastructure across centres will include dedicated zones for cricket, football, basketball, skating, badminton, and fitness activities,” the official said.

“Safety measures such as CCTV surveillance, LED lighting, and regular maintenance will be standard across all locations. The AMC also plans to host local tournaments, coaching camps, and sports events at these venues,” the official added.

Looking ahead, the corporation is working on new sports complexes and mini-stadiums, zone-level training centres, and youth sports academies with an eye on hosting mega events including the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympics.