Description

Since a long time, the Sabarmati River, which passes through the center of Ahmedabad, has been subjected to severe pressure and abuse owing to the fast pace of urban and industrial growth of the city. At present the riverfront lies neglected and is characterized by unimaginative and unplanned development. Its potential to provide city level social infrastructure and recreation facilities lies untapped. Though it is a major source of water for the city and despite the building of a major barrage to retain water, except for a few months during the monsoon the river is dry Sewage contaminated storm water outfalls and the dumping of industrial waste pose a major health and environmental hazard. Though the riverbanks and bed provide a place to stay and a source of livelihood for many poor citizens, the riverbank slums are disastrously flood prone and lack basic infrastructure services. The slums located along the riverbed also pose a major impediment to efficient management of monsoon floods in the river.

It has long been acknowledged that appropriate development of the riverfront can turn the river into a major asset, which can improve the quality of environment and life in Ahmedabad and improve the efficiency of its infrastructure. In May 1997, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation established the Sabarmati River Front Development Corporation Limited (SRFDGL) under Section 149 (3) of the Companies Act 1956. The SRFDCL was provided with a seed capital of Rs. one crore and charged with the responsibility of developing the Sabarmati Riverfront. In August 1997, the SRFDCL appointed Environmental Planning Collaborative (EPC), a citybased not for profit urban planning and urban development management consulting firm, to prepare a comprehensive proposal for the development of the Sabarmati Riverfront. This report presents the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Proposal (SRFD Proposal

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