Cooler days ahead for Amdavadis as winter sets in, ₹155 crore Temple Link Project to transform 2-km heritage trail around Jagannath Temple, Coldplay fans drive surge in city's hotel and flight prices and more. Find out what's happening in the city with this Ahmedabad News Roundup.

On Monday, the city woke up to a minimum temperature of 18.9°C, a drop from 21°C recorded the day before. While it’s still 2.2°C above the seasonal average, the nip in the air is a welcome sign of the approaching winter. The maximum temperature, on the other hand, held steady at 32.7°C, right in line with the norm.

Looking ahead, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts that temperatures will dip further, with the minimum expected to touch 18°C on Tuesday.

Ahmedabad’s civic body has launched the ₹155 crore Temple Link Project to enhance the surroundings of the iconic Jagannath Temple in the old city. The project includes a 2-km trail connecting historic landmarks like Vasant Chowk and the Ganesh Temple, linking Saptarshi No Aaro to the Jagannath Temple via the traditional Jal Yatra route.

Key features include the restoration of nearly 35 ancient temples, the development of 10 temple plazas and gardens, a heritage interpretation centre, and a multilevel parking facility. This initiative aims to preserve Ahmedabad’s rich temple heritage while improving the experience for devotees and visitors.

Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation is set to construct a food plaza in Prahladnagar at a cost of ₹6.46 crore. The plaza will feature 28 food stalls and be designed to accommodate 312 diners at once. The Road and Building Committee will discuss a proposal regarding the sale, rental, or licensing of these stalls on Tuesday.

Coldplay’s concerts on the 25th and 26th of January in Ahmedabad have created a frenzy among fans, with tickets selling out quickly. Outstation fans are now booking flights and hotels, causing a significant spike in prices. Flight fares have doubled or tripled; for example, Delhi-Ahmedabad flights that typically cost ₹4,500 now go for ₹10,000. Similarly, Mumbai-Ahmedabad flights have risen from ₹2,500 to ₹4,700.

The hospitality sector is witnessing an unprecedented boom, with five-star hotels charging ₹40,000 to ₹75,000 per night for rooms that normally cost ₹8,000 to ₹16,000.

Chief Minister has approved ₹145 crore for the construction of a new four-lane major bridge on Saraswati River in Sidhpur taluka, along the Mehsana-Unjha-Siddhpur-Palanpur State Highway. This initiative will facilitate the transformation of the Ahmedabad-Mehsana-Palanpur stretch into a high-speed corridor.

The existing two-lane bridge, constructed in 1959, no longer meets today's traffic demands. To improve infrastructure, the new bridge will be built alongside the current four-lane structure, ensuring smoother and safer travel. Once completed, this project promises to bolster the road network in North Gujarat.