A second international benchmark comes from the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia’s Gold Coast. The official post-event study titled Economic Impact Assessment of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, published by Griffith University in 2019, estimated a total economic impact of A$2.5 billion across the preparation, event and short-term legacy periods. The same report documented how the Parklands Athlete Village was designed for immediate conversion into a mixed-use residential and commercial district, creating long-term value after the Games.
Ahmedabad is now positioned to replicate elements of these success stories. Several anchor projects are already in motion. The 236-acre Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave in Motera was sanctioned through a Government of Gujarat resolution issued in 2021, with project details published through official state planning documents. The upcoming Naranpura Sports Complex, spread over approximately 143 acres of restructured institutional land, has been cleared through the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority’s town-planning approvals. The expansion of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, including a major terminal upgrade, is documented in the Airports Authority of India’s infrastructure expansion filings.
As a result, multiple regions in Ahmedabad are emerging as strong development corridors. Motera and Naranpura will anchor the sports infrastructure. Their positioning resembles London’s Stratford and Hackney Wick, which saw early uplift once venue plans were locked. The Sabarmati riverfront corridor, expected to include the athlete village and aquatic facilities, is well-placed for hospitality, residential and mixed-use activity, similar to the waterfront-led developments in the Gold Coast.
In South-West Ahmedabad, the Manipur, Godhavi and Shela belt is undergoing zoning transitions connected to the South-West Ahmedabad Sports Arena (SWASA), cleared under Ahmedabad Development Plan provisions. These zoning changes reflect early groundwork for wider roads, public infrastructure and recreational precincts. Comparable patterns were seen in the Carrara to Southport corridor during the Gold Coast Games.
There is also a second ring of localities that are strategically positioned for spillover benefits. This group includes Vaishnodevi, Gota, Jagatpur and New Ranip, which sit along expanding north and north-west transit networks that connect to SP Ring Road, the airport zone and the Motera sports hub. These areas already have strong residential traction, and their location offers more affordable entry points for buyers who want access to upgraded infrastructure without being inside high-density venue zones. Research on London’s second-tier Olympic belts, such as Leyton and Plaistow, showed that such peripheral-but-connected areas often experience strong mid-cycle appreciation.
Further west, the Sanand to SP Ring Road corridor, including Shilaj, Palodia, Godhavi, Nidhrad and Kaneti, has undergone formal land-use conversion approved through the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority. More than 200 hectares have been designated for mixed-use and sports-linked development. This mirrors the zoning approach used in Manchester before the 2002 Commonwealth Games, where peripheral corridors became long-term growth engines.
Across past global events, the development arc typically unfolds in three stages. First comes the announcement phase, during which confidence increases and land acquisition intensifies in well-connected pockets. Next comes the construction phase, where cities experience higher demand for rental housing, serviced apartments and mid-scale hotels. Finally comes the legacy phase, where outcomes depend on whether the infrastructure created is fully integrated into the city’s long-term urban plan. A comprehensive review by Bent Flyvbjerg and Allison Stewart in the 2020 Oxford Olympics Study found that cities such as Barcelona, London and the Gold Coast benefited significantly because they designed their infrastructure with post-event reuse in mind.
For Ahmedabad’s residents and businesses, the opportunities now depend on geography and readiness. Individuals who own or plan to invest in Motera, Naranpura, Shela, Shilaj, Godhavi, Vaishnodevi, Gota, Jagatpur and New Ranip are located within or near mapped infrastructure corridors. Hospitality players near the airport and riverfront can gear up for expanded demand from officials, spectators and post-Games business tourism. Service-sector companies in logistics, facility management, events and transport can anticipate rising activity long before 2030.
At the same time, global lessons highlight the need for discipline. The Urban Regeneration Review conducted by the University of Portsmouth in 2022 found that although London achieved strong gains, the benefits varied significantly across neighbourhoods and were closely tied to transit improvements and sustained investment. Ahmedabad’s long-term success will rely on execution quality, consistent funding and integrated planning across the next seven years.
In summary, Ahmedabad’s confirmation as host city for the 2030 Commonwealth Games has created a clear development roadmap supported by credible international examples and ongoing local projects. If the city maintains coordinated planning and timely delivery, the Games could reshape Ahmedabad’s real-estate corridors, strengthen its hospitality ecosystem and expand long-term growth across major zones such as Motera, Naranpura, Sabarmati, Shela, Shilaj, Vaishnodevi, Gota, Jagatpur and New Ranip.
- Arvind Ola
CEO & MD, Reneev Developers.
https://www.reneevdevelopers.com/
