Ahmedabad is all set to host the Centenary edition of The Commonwealth Games in 2030. This marks the return of the Games to India after two decades, after Delhi hosted it in the year 2010. This aligns with Gujarat’s broader vision of positioning Ahmedabad as a global sports hub, in addition to being a business hub, and to fuel its ambition to bid for the 2036 Olympic Games. Prima facie, being the host to the CWG would mean the following direct impacts:
- Massive public investment in roads, metro, BRTS, utilities, and urban beautification, particularly around Motera, GIFT City, and key transport corridors.
- Development of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave, with the Narendra Modi Stadium, new aquatics center, football stadiums, indoor arenas, and an athletes’ village for about 3,000 participants, creating a new epicenter for real estate activity in North-West Ahmedabad.
In this article we will try to look at the impact that the imminent arrival of the Games will have on the real estate sector of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. Before we move forward, it is best we look back first.
Effect of the CWG on the real estate market in Delhi NCR in 2010:
Delhi’s experience with the Commonwealth Games in 2010 offers the best benchmark in understanding the impact the Games will have on Ahmedabad.
- In East Delhi, around the Commonwealth Games Village near Akshardham, residential prices appreciated by roughly 10–15% in the year leading up to the Games. This was primarily driven by better infrastructural developments.
- The Trans-Yamuna belt in general saw land and property prices rise as civic and transport upgrades made previously overlooked locations more attractive to end-users.
Expected impact on Ahmedabad & Gandhinagar real estate markets:
In 2025 the country is already more developed that it was in 2010, and hence, many market pundits expect that the tailwinds from CWG this time around will not be a one- or two-year affair, but a multi-pronged and multi-faceted positive push for both Ahmedabad & Gandhinagar. It is expected that the impact will be seen in three distinct phases: Planning Phase (pre-2028), Execution Phase (2028-2030) and Legacy Phase (post 2030)
Let us now look more closely at the impacts that above phases will have on the real estate sector.
Uplift in Residential Demand:
- Major uptick is expected in the micro markets of Motera, Sabarmati, Tragad, Vaishnodevi and GIFT City. The Planning & Execution Phase will see major movements here. Spill over effect will also be seen along the major BRTS and Highway corridors.
- The Legacy Phase might see conversion of the Athlete Village into a mid-income to upper-mid income community township, thus adding quality inventory in this segment.
Uptick in Commercial & Mixed-Use Demand:
- The advent of the Games will bring with it a clear demand spike in commercial spaces like offices, co-working spaces, retail and hotels. Given the proximity, this effect will be seen across both Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.
- Mixed-use developments are hence expected to seen an increase in demand as these would offer the benefits of both residential and commercial usage.
- Short-term rentals, serviced apartments, and branded PG / co-living formats may see strong traction as the city gears up for training camps, and pre-Games tourism from 2027 onwards.
Positive Sentiments:
- The Games in itself is a 12-day event, but hosting one lends to unparalleled infrastructural developments and global eyeballs.
- This gives a boost to sentiments, which still is by far the strongest driving force in any market. The Centenary edition of the Commonwealth Games in 2030 will be a huge impetus to full city-wide upgrade for Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.
Development of Long-Term Urban Anchors:
- It is estimated that an amount of ₹5,000–6,000 Crore will be invested in development of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave, Olympic standard Arena, Athlete Village and Aquatics Center – A total of nearly 9 million Square Feet. The entire belt leading up from Motera to Riverfront and up until the Airport with be transformed into a permanent sports & entertainment epicenter.
- Apart from the above, there will be a plethora of secondary & tertiary developments like Veer Savarkar Sprots Complex in Narangpura and a sports cluster in Karai. The Gujarat Sports Infrastructure Development Corporation and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation are also planning multiple new sports complexes across the city.
Fast track Upgrades in Transport:
- Mumbai Ahmedabad Bullet Train project is expected to fully functional by the year 2029. In fact the Gujarat stretch of the corridor is expected to be up by 2027 itself.
- Metro and BRTS extensions are underway, including a 7 Km sports-themed corridor from the Sabarmati Multimodal Hub to Koteshwar Metro Station.
- A ₹3,130 Crore expansion is planned for The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, including a new terminal.
The GIFT City integration push:
- New metro stations on the Ahmedabad–Gandhinagar line
- A faster direct road link to the airport
- Development of a 27-acre Central Park and public sports arenas inside GIFT City
- Expansion of the unique 16 km underground utility tunnel that houses power, water, district cooling and waste systems.
Direct Impact on Real Estate demand & prices:
- Motera & Sabarmati – Tragad – Vaishnodevi belt will see both appreciation in capital prices and an uptick in rental asks.
- Areas along SP Ring Road near Vaishnodevi Circle will benefit from ring-road upgrades, Metro/BRTS connectivity and spillover demand from Motera and northern sports corridors.
- SG Highway (Thaltej – Bodakdev – Sola) is likely to benefit from Games-led visibility, corporate expansion and improved inter-city connectivity.
- Ambli–Bopal–South Bopal–Shela belt is expected to gain from new sports complexes, town-planning–linked parks and better connectivity to SG Highway and event corridors.
- GIFT City & GIFT corridor (towards Raysan / Kudasan) will see uptick in both capital and rental asks fueled by India’s only operational IFSC and increased connectivity.
Summary
The Commonwealth Games will bring in actual development and a sense of overall positivity. Both these forces will only act was unprecedented tailwinds for the City in general and for the real estate market in particular. Even as the dust around this settles, finding your dream home in a crowded real estate market can feel like running in circles. This is where Vitalspace, a trusted real estate consultancy with over a decade of experience, steps in. At vitalspace.in, you will find zero brokerage on residential properties, 1000+ verified listings, smart search filters, and features like video listings and detailed floor plans. They make home-hunting simple, transparent, and stress-free.