How are the retail and commercial hub adding charm to the city?
From the beginning, Ahmedabad has been the most important shopping hub not only for its citizens but also for the people from surrounding districts. The central business district areas of the city have constantly kept changing. Starting from old walled city areas like Manek Chowk and Ratan Pole in the beginning of the 20th century than gradually Ashram Road, C G Road, 132′ Ring Road and S G Highway developed.
For more than last two decades, Ahmedabad has implemented mix use zoning i.e. Residential and Commercial Development is being permitted in R1 and R2 zones. This results in mix use development like shopping area on ground and first floor and residential usage of upper floors. This acted as a catalyzer for the suburbs of the city to develop keeping up with the requirements.
What is in store for the city’s future development?
As stated earlier, due to mix zoning, every areas in the city having R1 and R2 zones have equal capacity for developing. More particularly , areas connected through mass transportation have more potentiality than the other areas. BRTS corridor and upcoming Metro corridor having higher FSI will also lead towards more compact development.
Which areas are being worked upon and what is the future of emerging areas of the city?
Areas in East and West Ahmedabad are the areas to be focused for connectivity through public transportation. All the areas connected and to be connected through mass transportation like AMTS, BRTS, and METRO as mass transportation is the most effective and essential mode to travel.
Ahmedabad has the distinct identity; do you think that is working in catching entrepreneurs and home buyers fancy?
Yes, Ahmedabad has an amazing marketing and industrial productive potentiality. Ahmedabad city is known as “Manchester of India“ and is now galloping into construction, tourism, hospitality, automobile, pharmaceutical, medical and educational activities.
How is “Living in Ahmedabad“ different as opposed to any other city?
The city has both inter and intra connectivity up to a remarkable level. Ahmedabad is well connected through rail and roads with the neighbouring states. Due to town planning and urban development act, the concept of TP Schemes has been adopted for the city since a century . First TP Scheme of the city was prepared in 1915 for Jamalpur and Ahmedabad city has developed chronologically since then.
Wider roads, open spaces, gardens and lands for physical and social infrastructures are easily available in the city . Under JnNURM project, highest number of houses for socially and economically weaker section of the society were built. Projects like SRFDC and Kankaria Lake development are the milestone projects of the city .Development on C G Road, S G Highway and upcoming S P Ring Road are the places for outing for the citizens of the city. So it is rightly said that living in Ahmedabad is all together a different thing than living in any other city .
What specific development and project shall further bejewel this metro city?
Projects like Sabarmati River Front Development and Kankaria Lake Front Development are the major and remarkable projects that the city has. For urban transportation, Ahmedabad has the AMTS and BRTS project which have been taken a note at national and even international level. METRO project under Metro link Express for Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad (MEGHA co.Ltd) has been started and shall start functioning within three years.
Also functioning of Sardar Patel Ring Road is a unique example for public private partnership; a project started functioning within three years from its launching.
Ahmedabad has transformed tremendously and it keep developing at a fast pace, according to you what is leading to its progress?
There are some factors which uplift the development of the city . Its strategic location and connectivity with nearby areas and states, peaceful environment, business minded and friendly citizens, comparatively cheaper land rates than other states, state government initiatives via different users friendly policies, are the main factors which boost up the development of the city.
Which are the remarkable facelift that have or should catalyze the city’s growth?
As stated earlier, calm and business-friendly citizens, state government initiatives via different users’ friendly policies and eagerness of the people to accept new things are the key factors for city’s growth.
What makes Ahmedabad living so exclusive?
Good and peaceful living environment, calm and friendly people, lesser crime rates, opportunity to grow, having cheaper commodities and above all the typical Amdavadi culture makes Ahmedabad more livable.
-As shared with Garima Malvanker
