PM Modi and Chancellor Merz will jointly inaugurate the International Kite Festival-2026 at the Vallabh Sadan on Sabarmati Riverfront on Monday, adding a diplomatic dimension to Gujarat’s iconic festival on the occasion of Uttarayan.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has been making last-minute arrangements for the visit of Modi and Merz with special emphasis on cleanliness, security, beautification and traffic management in view of the arrival of national and international guests along with the two leaders.
Preparations underway ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Federal Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz’s visit at the Mahatma Gandhi Ashram, in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. (ANI Photo)
“Around 200 hoardings welcoming the two leaders have been installed by the Estates Department on various routes of the city. A 24-hour special cleaning campaign has been undertaken by the Solid Waste Management Department of the AMC. More than 1,200 cleaning personnel have been deployed on six routes with a total length of 28.3 km, giving top priority to main routes in West, North and North-West zones of the city. Intensive cleaning and beautification is being done using 22 mechanised sweeping machines, 14 mist sprinklers as well as earth-movers and over 20 trucks. Also attractive murals and traditional paintings have been created at Mount Carmel School, Naranpura and Ranip area,” a senior AMC official told The Indian Express.
Civil works including kota stone and granite, benches, stairs, ramps, parapet walls and planting have been undertaken by the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Limited (SRFDCL) in the Upper Promenade area on the west bank of Sabarmati River from Metro Bridge to Vallabh Sadan. Floating garbage in the river too is being continuously cleaned using skimmer machines to keep the river clean.
Workers during renovation work at Mahatma Gandhi Ashram ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s scheduled visit, in Ahmedabad, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (PTI Photo)
Painting, decorating and infrastructural improvement works are going on in full swing along the airport route, main roads, Gandhi Ashram, Sabarmati Riverfront and areas connecting the event venues.
All the departments of the AMC including Garden, Road Project, Bridge Project, Traffic Project, Estate, Lighting, Solid Waste Management Department and SRFDCL are working on a war footing.
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The AMC official said that to make the city greener, the Garden Department is doing trimming of trees, repairing tree guards and planting new trees under Miyawaki method.
Workers arrange a welcome hoarding of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Friedrich Merz ahead of their scheduled visit at International kite festival, in Ahmedabad on Thursday. (ANI Photo)
Road repair works have been carried out by the Road Project Department, while works including pavement repair, crash barrier and railing colouring have been completed on the Chimanbhai Patel Bridge by the Bridge Project Department.
Thermoplastic paint marking, median marker fixing, road safety signage, direction and instruction boards have been installed by the Traffic Project Department to streamline traffic. Decorative lighting has been arranged on major thoroughfares, bridges and riverfront areas, the official said.
The AMC is also ensuring a strict security system as vigilance has been maintained on roads, event venues and public areas in coordination with various security agencies.
