Ahmedabad is preparing for its next major urban transformation, with the Sabarmati Riverfront set to become the focal point of an ambitious sports infrastructure plan that aims to cement the city’s position as India’s leading sporting destination. The proposed developments form part of a wider vision to create a long-term sporting legacy, while strengthening Ahmedabad’s readiness to host future international multi-sport events, including the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
The planned facilities will be centred around an expanded Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (SVP) Sports Enclave near the Narendra Modi Stadium, alongside a complementary sports hub at the Gujarat Police Academy (GPA) in Karai. Officials have maintained that the projects are being developed as part of Ahmedabad’s broader urban planning goals rather than exclusively for the Commonwealth Games or India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games.
Sabarmati Riverfront to anchor Ahmedabad’s next sports district
Under the proposed masterplan, the Sabarmati Riverfront will evolve into a dedicated sports corridor featuring several international-standard venues. Plans include a 12,000-seat aquatics centre, an 18,000-capacity multipurpose indoor arena and a 24-court tennis complex with a 24,000-seat show court, all within the expanded 335-acre SVP Sports Enclave.
The development will also incorporate a riverfront park, a public boulevard and the proposed National Institute for Sports Excellence, creating a mixed-use sporting precinct designed to serve both elite athletes and the wider community. The wider sports enclave is also progressing through key planning stages after land-use changes were approved to facilitate the project.
Gujarat Police Academy to emerge as second major venue
A second sports hub is proposed at the 143-acre Gujarat Police Academy in Karai. The campus is planned to house a 50,000-seat athletics stadium, an integrated shooting centre with indoor and outdoor ranges, and a multipurpose arena featuring a high-performance training centre. Although construction on both projects is yet to begin, officials expect the facilities to be completed between 2028 and 2029, allowing ample time before any future international sporting commitments.
Built as a lasting legacy, not just for major events
According to officials from the Sports Authority of Gujarat, the proposed infrastructure is intended to create lasting sporting assets for the city rather than temporary venues for a single event. While the facilities are expected to host a significant share of competitions if Ahmedabad stages the 2030 Commonwealth Games, they are also being planned to support grassroots sport, athlete development and future international tournaments.
The Narendra Modi Stadium has already established Ahmedabad as one of India’s premier sporting cities, and the new projects are expected to broaden the city’s capabilities beyond cricket by adding world-class infrastructure for athletics, aquatics, tennis, shooting and indoor sports.
Supporting Ahmedabad’s global sporting ambitions
Ahmedabad continues to position itself as a future global sporting destination, with the city preparing to host the centenary edition of the 2030 Commonwealth Games while also supporting India’s ambition to stage the 2036 Olympic Games. Alongside venue development, the city is investing in transport, urban infrastructure and public spaces to create a long-term sporting ecosystem rather than event-specific facilities.
If completed as planned, the Sabarmati Riverfront sports district will establish a new benchmark for integrated sports infrastructure in India.
