Bhadra Fort Redevelopment Project

*Heritage Conservation in heart of Walled City: approx 600yrs old
*Restoration of Fort Wall
*Pedestrian zone + Pedestrian Bridge across Sabarmati Riverfront
*Open spaces + Trees to create more welcoming environment
*Project of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC)

Overall Plan
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Bhadra Fort Currently
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Prev Articles

Jun 2011 Bhadra Redevelopment to cost 74Cr (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=79805672&postcount=547)
Apr 2011 AMC to bridge cultural divide (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=76265295&postcount=506)
Apr 2011 Now, our own Millenium Bridge (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=76265633&postcount=507)
Feb 2011 City to get back Fort Wall (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=73082329&postcount=481)

(Info x-posted from Ahmedabad Projects)

Looking forward to see Bhadra project being executed. I hope project materialize as dream by IP Gautam

I saw these plans when i was in 9th grade. They were put in an exhibition in 2003 in Snehal Shah's office in Ahmedabad. Hasn't still seen the light of the day

AMC announces begining of Bhadra plaza development project from 26 January, watch how it would look ultimately (http://deshgujarat.com/2012/01/13/amc-announces-begining-of-bhadra-fort-development-project/)

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7159/6689488831_c37d001e8f_b.jpg

Ahmedabad, 13 January 2012

Shri Guruprasad Mohapatra, Commissioner of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation today said that the AMC is all set to start the first phase work ambitious Bhadra Plaza Development Project(BPDP) in wall city area. The first phase involves the works on the stretch that connects Bhadra court and Tran darwaja.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7171/6689487603_208eae4d69_b.jpg

AMC had inked MoU with Archaeological Survey of India(ASI) for this project that involves landscaping and betterment of 600-year old Bhadra fort and surrounding area.

Rs 74.39 crore project of development of the area between Bhadra fort and Tran darwaja has been approved under JnNURM scheme.

Design and detail project report of this project has been prepared by Ahmedabad based CEPT university.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7148/6689487875_0de63d9bfa_b.jpg

Facilities including signage, lighting, benches, fountain, landscaping, attractive street furniture are parts of this project which is to be completed in one year as per the AMC plan.

As a part of this project of development of plaza, Karanj women’s police station, UCO bank and taxi stand will be shifted. The AMC is discussing the issue with them in this regard.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7025/6689488083_98db1467b8_b.jpg

The area between Bhadra fort and Tran darwaja will be declared as pedestrian plaza.AMC and city traffic police will soon come with a notification for traffic diversion therefore.

A museum and city centre will be developed at Bhdra fort. Other works like public toilet, parking, gardens, road development, street light, rickshaw and taxi stand and lighting over the historical buildings are to be completed under the project.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7013/6689488347_5c19169973_b.jpg

A pedestrian bridge connecting Sabarmati river front and pedestrian plaza of Bhadra-Tran darwaja stretch will be built under the project.

In total the project will include following works:

-Plaza works between Bhadra court and Tran darwaja.
-Restoration of Bhadra fort.
-Development of Azamkhan Sarai area for multidimensional usages.
-Pedestrian bridge connecting Bhadra fort and a heritage park on Sabarmati river front.
-Development of Lal darwaja bus stop with multi storage parking facility.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7012/6689488589_84d9787b64_b.jpg

Finally it's happening. The area will be transformed completely. Here's how it looks presently :

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSu1Ol6VxXsm2nixWtfxr4LKNxi6Ix-rXYyZUstehbPz1A094i10A

happy Makar Sankranti- Please enjoy the festivity and see in the link how people are celebrating in various parts of India at http://indian-writer.blogspot.com/2012/01/blessings-and-good-wishes-on-holi-makar.html

Bhadra Fort to remain shut for vehicles from Jan 27 (http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_ahmedabad-s-bhadra-fort-to-remain-shut-for-vehicles-from-jan-27_1637500)

Work on the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's (AMC) ambitious Bhadra beautification project is all set to begin from January 26. In fact, the whole of the Bhadra Fort area will be declared out of bounds for all vehicular terrific once the work begins.

In 10 months time, the stretch between Bhadra Fort and Teen Darwaza will have been transformed into a devoted pedestrian zone with a specially designed walkway. There will be none of the chaos or the traffic the area is associated with currently; the AMC plans to turn the entire Bhadra area into a centre for leisure activities.

The project, which is being implemented under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), had been in the conception and planning stage for several years.The whole project includes development of the public plaza and a pedestrian space from Bhadra Fort to Teen Darwaja, restoration of the fort itself, development of Azamkhan Sarai area, a pedestrian bridge connecting Bhadra fort to the Sabarmati riverfront, and multilevel parking space at Lal Darwaja.

Work on the public plaza and the pedestrian space from Bhadra Fort to Teen Darwaja will commence on January 26 and will be completed within 10 months, said municipal commissioner Guruprasad Mohapatra.

Some pictures of the area I found :

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7160/6708160603_41af355b92_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wheavil/6708160603/)
Teen Darwaja (Three Gates) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wheavil/6708160603/) by _Adam_ (http://www.flickr.com/people/wheavil/), on Flickr
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7160/6708169419_3d00dcbdda_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wheavil/6708169419/)
Ahmedabad (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wheavil/6708169419/) by _Adam_ (http://www.flickr.com/people/wheavil/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7169/6708172775_56a115a518_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wheavil/6708172775/)
Bhadra Fort (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wheavil/6708172775/) by _Adam_ (http://www.flickr.com/people/wheavil/), on Flickr

Historians recommend retention of significant signages at Bhadra fort (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Historians-recommend-retention-of-significant-signages-at-Bhadra-fort/articleshow/11634870.cms)

To make restoration of Bhadra Fort and its surroundings more meaningful, historians from Khadia Itihas Samiti - an organization upholding the cause of conservation of heritage of Walled City since last two decades, have come forward with a set of recommendations. The restoration work at the fort is to start from today, on the occasion of Republic Day.

Itihas Samiti members submitted their recommendations to Bhavesh Mehta, visiting faculty at Cept and restoration architect linked with the Bhadra Fort restoration project. Mehta said, "We are mulling to involve historians, residents, pedestrians in the restoration of the fort. The European model of consultative restoration is the best approach to conserve historically sensitive live monuments like this." Mehta has worked in Europe for 14 years and has worked in conservation of Belgium's Brugge - UNESCO world heritage city and has restored various heritage structures in Mechelen town in Belgium.

Ashutosh Bhatt, founder and secretary of Khadia Itihas Samiti, says, "There are several significant signages at the fort which form a vital link with the history of Ahmedabad. These include the caved hole (gokhalo) where there is a constant flame (akhand divo) - a sign that has kept the Laxmi mythology alive, shrine of Kotwal Ahmed Basheer near Bhadrakali temple and marble plate on the fort installed during Maratha rule which states that daughters are a heir to father's property - such small but vital signages must be carefully retained and incorporated with the new design."

For authentic restoration of the live monument which is not a museum but live document of centuries and is part of the memories of millions of city dwellers, there is a need of consultative conservation approach, advised Munindra Joshi, former assistant director of State Archaeology department and member of Khadia Itihas Samiti.

The Samiti has also proposed to install the history of fort stating that the first agreement between Jahangir and British representatives to set up a colony at Surat actually took place at Bhadra Fort. In times of Peshwa rulers, execution of capital punishments used to take place at the Fort. "There are historical references which are documented in various books. And installations with brief historical details also must be put up after concluding the conservation project of the fort," said Bhatt.

[url="http://pzy.be/v/2/bhadra+1.jpg"]http://pzy.be/t/2/bhadra+1.jpg[/url

http://pzy.be/t/2/bhadra.jpg (http://pzy.be/v/2/bhadra.jpg)

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Any recent progress in this project? I hope that the work is in full swing.

Bhadra fort may get date palms to signify history

The new look proposed for Bhadra fort will remind you of Sultan Ahmed Shah’s regime, literally. And to revive the look of yore, the team of consultants from the Centre for Environment Planning and Technology (CEPT) are going to such great lengths as researching on the species of trees that grew surrounding the fort during the time of the great ruler, who also laid the foundation of Amdavad city. Interestingly, one of the species that is being considered is date palm.

Elaborating more on the research and the design, Professor Utpal Sharma shared details on how his team is trying to reconstruct a landscape for Bhadra fort similar to the one that existed at the time of Ahmed Shah’s rule.

“We are in talks with landscape designers for having such trees and most probably date trees will be planted. Apart from the paintings, there are many references from where it is clear that Bhadra fort’s surrounding had date and palm trees. Earlier, Ahmedabad was known as ‘Gardabad’ meaning a city of dust. With scarcity of water and other weather conditions, the land is conducive for the growth of date and palm trees,” Sharma informed.

Elaborating further, Sharma stated that while the central space will be left vacant for pedestrians, the surroundings will have date palms to create an arcade.

Speaking to DNA, an official of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s (AMC) Heritage department requesting anonymity stated, “We discussed with CEPT on having such trees which existed during those time — for historical connection. Since we are reviving history, having such trees will enhance the beauty of the historical edifice.”

The official also stated that several paintings of Ahmed Shah and the Bhadra fort, which were referred, show the building as being surrounded by palm trees. “But looking at the environment that such trees require, the existence of such species in that era remains a huge question,” added the official. However, he assured that the planting of saplings that will be done around Bhadra fort will be in sync with that of history.

Presently, as a part of the restoration work, the fort is witnessing civil work of paving the pedestrian area and construction of fountains. “After finalizing the species of trees, we will be planting those within a few months,” added the official.

However, while plans are afoot to plant species of trees that grew around Bhadra as evident from paintings, heritage expert and consultant with (AMC), Debashish Nayak, had a different perspective altogether. “The large area between Bhadra fort and Teen Darwaza had no landscape and it was a ceremonial ground for the soldiers of Ahmed Shah,” Nayak said.

Hi Rushabh,

Is the work going on at Bhadra?

Yup, work's going on, but have no idea about the progress...

Bhadra revitalization project wins HUDCO award

Source (http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/getpage.aspx?pageid=5&pagesize=&edid=&edlabel=TOIA&mydateHid=21-02-2013&pubname=&edname=&publabel=TOI)

Ahmedabad: The prestigious Bhadra precinct revitalization project in the walled city area of Ahmedabad has won the HUDCO Award for Best Practices to Improve the Living Environment.The more than Rs 100 project is one-of-its-kind in the country and among first heritage and pedestrianization projects to be assisted under the JNNURM.The award will be conferred by HUDCO in Delhi and a team from the city has already left for the capital.

The award will be announced on Thursday and will be given at a public function the following day, says a senior AMC official.The HUDCO committee had gone into the details of the design of the precinct and the AMCs plans of revitalizing and conserving heritage buildings around the Bhadra square.

The linking of the Bhadra project with the Sabarmati Riverfront was an inclusive planning technique, adds the official.The project also scored because it was geared towards making the walled city trafficfree and making it accessible to pedestrians.The linking of the riverfront with walled city was mainly to improve the local economic conditions of those who live in the walled city.

Bro do you know if any work has started around bhadra or tran darwaja? Last I heard was some barriers were put up.

Have'nt been to the area for quite a while, but I heard that work is def going on at a good pace...

Bhadra hawkers to get new address (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Bhadra-hawkers-to-get-new-address/articleshow/18621142.cms)

AHMEDABAD: Hundreds of hawkers outside Bhadra citadel in the walled city, who used to be seen packed cheek-by-jowl at Teen Darwaja are now being shifted to a new location, as part of the Bhadra revitalization plan. On Thursday a large delegation of hawkers stood outside the central office of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) in Danapith, appealing that they would loose their business if they were shifted.

Deputy municipal commissioner Arjav Shah showed the delegation at least three spots around the walled city, where they could be rehabilitated. One location, just opposite Roopalee Cinema, where there is a large footpath and a portion of it could be used to seat hawkers. "This is a question of their livelihood. The hawkers were the reason for the bustle of the walled city. The other location is the new site of the Gujri bazaar on the riverfront. The third location is near Danapith itself," says a senior AMC official.

However, officials also pointed at a suggestion from the National Institute of Design (NID), where students had showed designs of collapsible shops with better portability and protection from the scorching sun. "The hawkers could be allowed to function at specific time of the day and given collapsible shops. This could be a controlled activity and the hawkers would not loose their livelihoods," says the official.

Now this will be interesting to see where they go. I like the idea of collapsible shops but thats for AMC to implement and for us to see. I am hoping AMC has planned to make sure hawkers dont go back to bhadra once the redevelopment is over.

I was in Ahmedabad this week and while walking around I was seeing so much potential this old town has... so happy to see that something is happening here and that the people who make their living in this area are also not forgotten!

Bro do you know if any work has started around bhadra or tran darwaja? Last I heard was some barriers were put up.

Had been to Khadia a week ago. It was night time so no work was going on then.
But yes, it seemed that work is going on in good pace near Bhadra Kali Mata Mandir :)
This must be first of its kind transformation of heritage area in India i guess. I may be wrong though :okay:

Nice! Hopefully we some pics in the local media.

There is definitely some progress in the landscaping near the Bhadra Fort. Glad to see that they have'nt cut down the tress (according to the original design). If possible will try to visit the place to get some pictorial updates...

This was in 2010

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/1108/bhadra2010.png


This is how it was supposed to look like

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7171/6689487603_208eae4d69_b.jpg


And this is how it looked in 2012

http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/2922/bhadra2012.png

Found this on Google Earth

cc Gorbushin Grigory

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/5425/bhadra2013.png


Seems as if they have opened up a section for the public...:)

The road leads to the Teen Darwaja and the fort is behind the photographer...

Ahmedabad: Bhadra set to have a royal look soon (http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/GUJ-AHD-ahmedabad-bhadra-set-to-have-a-royal-look-soon-4210872-NOR.html)

Remember Akbar and Jodha walking by the water channel in the garden of their palace in the film ‘Jodha Akbar’? If everything goes according to the plans of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, then soon, the city’s Bhadra monument will be beautified with a water channel and fountain, typically found in the Mughal gardens of the country. The project was initially slated to be completed by April this year. However, it got delayed due to several reasons.

The civic body, which is working on flooring and developing the pedestrian space in Bhadra premises, will begin work of constructing the water channel and fountain. It will be built on the space where UCO Bank building and Karanj women police station operated. However, this will materialise only in the second phase, after the area of UCO Bank building is barricaded.

An official of heritage department of AMC requesting anonymity said, “The barricades will be extended till UCO bank building for which police commissioner has already issued a notification for traffic diversion.”

Surrounded by encroachment, the Bhadra premises remained largely neglected till recently. “The basic idea was to give a royal touch to the monument which is now protected by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI). Many of the Mughal gardens have water channels and fountains. Bringing that element to Bhadra would add to its charm,” said another heritage official of AMC.

The official further said, “When we referred to history books, we found that the fort premises had orange trees. The same environment will be re-created by planting citron trees in the pedestrian space.” Some of the saplings were planted during monsoon season last year, the official added.

The construction of pedestrian area from Bhadra to Teen Darwaja is one of the many phases of the entire project that is being implemented under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). It includes development of a public plaza and pedestrian space from Bhadra Fort to Teen Darwaja, restoration of the fort itself, development of Azamkhan Sarai area, a pedestrian bridge connecting Bhadra fort to the Sabarmati riverfront and multilevel parking space at Lal Darwaja.