Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar Cityscapes

[kshatriya]

Originally Posted by Suncity

I just read that the NTC mill land auction have been put off due to "public controversy" about their proposed usage by "activists". I think I posted something in the Mumbai thread. Don't know if that affects this project.

Yes I have read that too, hope it gets resolved. It seems like a never ending barrage of opposition, like everyone wants this project shelved, which is so not true. The activists "think they speak for everyone", OTOH if they provide proper solutions to the govt. instead of just continuosly opposing they will be doing a great job for Mumbai....

[Suncity]

Originally Posted by kshatriya

The activists "think they speak for everyone", OTOH if they provide proper solutions to the govt. instead of just continuosly opposing they will be doing a great job for Mumbai....

Well said..

[Citi-Zen]

Originally Posted by Suncity

I just read that the NTC mill land auction have been put off due to "public controversy" about their proposed usage by "activists". I think I posted something in the Mumbai thread. Don't know if that affects this project.

Here's some news about the NTC mill redevlopment in Mumbai:

Panel set up to oversee mill land development
GURBIR SINGH

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 2005 07:27:23 AM]

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government has decided to set up a high power committee to examine the development of the island city in the context of the sell-off and redevelopment of land belonging to National Textile Corporation (NTC) and other private mills.

However, a decision has been taken not to roll back the amended Section 58 of the Development Control Regulations (DCR) promulgated in ‘01 to redefine the area to be surrendered by mills for public purposes and open spaces.

Instead, the high power committee will examine implementation of various ‘midway’ proposals such as keeping one-third of the mill area for open spaces, while allowing developers to load on (transfer) the FSI (development rights) of the open space onto high rise buildings.

The committee will also look to provide a master plan for the development of central Mumbai and the mill area that will give a contiguous geographical precinct connecting the various mills, a senior Mantralaya official said.

Citing an example, the official said: “Between Bombay Dyeing Mills and Century Mills that share a common boundary, is 28 acres of land that require to be developed as part of one integrated plan.”

A public controversy was triggered after eminent architect Charles Correa, former municipal commissioner Jamshed Kanga and others recently approached Congress president Sonia Gandhi and wrote to Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh complaining that the mill development norms in the city were causing over-crowding, haphazard planning, and killing open spaces.

As a backlash of this controversy, the first phase of NTC’s auction of 5 mill lands seems to have ground to a halt. The files awaiting Union textile minister Shankar Sinh Vaghela’s final clearance continue to gather dust in New Delhi despite clearances from the state government and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

Developers intending to enter the NTC auction process may also be wary of committing their money if the rules for redevelopment of mill lands are subject to constant review, a senior planner with the NTC told ET.

Pressure from mill owners eager to exploit surplus mill land led to DCR 58(1)(b) of the Maharashtra Regional & Town Planning Act being amended.

In the format before ‘01, mills wanting to exploit their land commercially had to surrender one-third to the public housing body, MHADA, while another one-third came to the BMC for developing gardens and open spaces.

This left only one-third for real estate exploitation by the mill owners.

With only one mill — Matulya Mills — coming forward under this development route, the government relaxed the provision and amended DCR 58 (1)(b) to exclude ‘existing structures’ (even if they were demolished as part of the development) from the land calculations. Therefore, the portions that are allotted for public housing and open spaces is calculated only after deducting the land occupied by existing buildings and structures.

This method of calculating what goes to the BMC and for public housing often left only 20% or even less of the total mill land area, making a mockery of the provision, point out those spearheading the demand for a rollback of DCR 58. The change was also made surreptitiously to benefit mill owners and developers, it is argued.

On the other hand, a mill owners’ representative pointed out that the amendment to the mill land sale provision was made only after inviting objections and giving a public hearing. As many as 44 objections were raised and heard before the amendment was made, the representative said.

The mill official also opposed changes in DCR 58 at this stage as developers had raised debt and entered into third party agreements based on existing provisions.

“As many as 14 mills have been allowed to develop under the amended DCR 58. It will be discriminatory to the others if we pull back now,” a senior government official said.

Speaking to ET, Charles Correa clarified that his target was not DCR 58, but the way the development of mill lands was taking place. “Land was required for hospitals, schools, transit housing and for slum clearance. If mill development does not give back to the city in equal measure, the city will suffer,” he said.

He also supported comprehensive and integrated development that will pool mill lands along with surplus railway and port land.

While Mr Correa seemed amenable to settle for something short of a total repeal of the DCR amendments, other activists seem to be girding their loins for another round of PILs on the issue.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...how/988965.cms
--------------

My take on this: the govt should once and for all define the rules and then stop contantly reviewing and changing them. They should leave enough land for infrastructure development, development of green zones, develop land use regulation, and then sell it off. This constant reviewing and changing is just going to scare investors off, and everytime a commitee comes out with recommendations, either the "activists" or the real estate developers are unhappy and file PILs and stop the process again. The freeing up of all this land in Mumbai is a huge chance for the city to go in for planned development that will really set Mumbai up for future growth, and they shouldn't let this go. I like the idea of one big master plan for the re-development of the entire mills land in Mumbai that takes into account all variables like infrastructure, environment, etc, istead of the bits-and-pieces development thats happening right now.

I agree totally with you. This project reminds me of the Docklands re-development that took place in London's East End about 10 years ago. Like this part of Mumbai, the Docklands, prior to 1991, where full of exhausted derelict manufacturing industries that were taking up vast acres of space right beside the CBD. So the govt. with help from private firms transformed this area, by building the 250m+ Canary Wharf in the area (currently the UK's tallest skyscraper) which involved the demolision of ex-factories. However the character of the area was maintained to some degree by retainning some pre-victorian buildings, which although where low rise, where charming (of which are prevelant in Mumbai too) and where converted into luxury apartments with a view into the River Thames. This project had a lot of opposition at the time, from local 'activists', saying such re-development only benefited the rich. However more than a decade on, the answer to whether the project was a success or not is beyond doubt, with the Canary Wharf now being surrounded by a cluster of other skyscrapers which has transformed London's skyline. Also those appartments filled the market for demand for high class housing in London with good access to the city, with the avergae price of a two bedroom falt well in excess of £500,000. One thing London didnt do was waste valuable space on creating greenland, if you like grass go and live in a farm!!!

[Suncity]

Looks like there are too many ifs and buts but at least there is some news..
However not sure whether the building would be the tallest in India as claimed by the article.

More on the "tallest" building:

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Torrent Group and the Gandhinagar Urban Development Authority (GUDA) for the Rs 100 crore building project at the just-concluded Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors’ Summit to build a 51 storey tower in Gandhinagar.

http://cities.expressindia.com/fulls...?newsid=114544

[drwho]

well lets hope it goes well,the biggest fear is if it end up in court.

[kshatriya]

i think this is happening. Its a commercial tower, so i guess it will surely breach 200m, and optimistically, maybe even hit 250m. Most 50+ commercial towers vary between 250-300m.

[centralized pandemonium]

Self edited.

[centralized pandemonium]

The place where I brought my dresses before coming to Canada.

[magestom]

Ahmedabad on a fast track to urbanisation

Netscribes / Anupama Chandra
February 21, 2005


Ahmedabad seems to be taking the fact that 2005 has been nominated as the ‘urban development year’ very seriously. Currently listed among the ten largest cities in India, Ahmedabad is seeking to effect major developmental initiatives in order to overhaul its infrastructural facilities so as to keep pace with the ongoing expansion in urban settlements.

Industry experts opine that most areas connected with the Ring Road would be the new popular destinations once the city achieves its urbanisation targets. Sola Road, Vadaj, Ghatlodia, Chandlodia and Gandhinagar shall soon become residential hotspots. The areas beyond Bopal, Thaltej and the SG Highway are deemed good for housing complexes, while Gandhinagar, Shela, in South Bopal, and Ghuma, beyond Bopal, are preferred for bungalow schemes.

The factor that would propel this process is the excellent connectivity enjoyed by these places. So, these passé suburbs will soon see much-needed attention coming their way. This urbanisation process is most likely to lead to the gradual merging of Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad, with only about 35-40 sq km area between the SG Highway and 200 ft Ring Road requiring to be filled.

It is believed that almost 50 per cent of the state’s population is likely migrate to urban areas over the next 10 years. Since adequate planning and management will be required to manage the inflow of such vast numbers, it will help if the current development of Ahmedabad is seen as a preparation to this end and done in a way that will stand the city in good stead in the long run.

[centralized pandemonium]

PC gives Ahmedabad mega dreams

AHMEDABAD: On the threshold of its 600th anniversary, Ahmedabad is a megacity now and is conjuring up a memorable birthday bash — from planning world class buildings to having the metro rail, from quality education to revitalising its heritage. C h i -dambaram's National Urban Renewal Mission (NURM) has not only given the city a spring in its steps, Ahmedabad now has a swagger too.

The UPA is ready to invest Rs 5,500 crore to cover the seven megacities in the country, where Ahmedabad was a surprise inclusion on Monday, plus those cities with a population of more than a million. "It's not just about building roads and bridges. The city has to come out of its 'chaigutkha-multiplex' rut to improve the quality of life," says a bureaucrat.

The rudimentary roadmap drawn up by city planners wants to put Ahmedabad at par with the world's developed cities. "It is a twopronged effort — by focusing on the fundamentals like water supply, drainage , road, transport, education and health care on one hand and grandiose schemes on the other," says Ahmedabad municipal commissioner Anil Mukim.

And, it's not only the tag that is helping. "We had planned to pump in Rs 1,500 crore over a period of two years. Much of this can now come from the mission," adds Mukim.

So, if you stared in awe at the Sydney Opera House or could not take your eyes off the Petronas Tower, walk the streets of Ahmedabad in future. City planners are lining up projects that include about 10 world class buildings which could live up to the grandeur of a Louis Kahn, who gave the city an architectural wonder to rave about four decades ago. Urban planners say these buildings will bring in the knowledgebased industries.

"Look at Gurgaon. It is a small city but is now a flourishing centre for IT and BPO industries," says CEPT faculty and urban planner Utpal Sharma. Planners at both the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority are raring to build on the "megacity thrust," rushing to the drawing boards to prepare dream projects.

"A number of plans are ready. We will now seek central assistance for the major infrastructure projects," says Auda Chairman Surendra Patel.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/a...ow/1037455.cms

[centralized pandemonium]

Good for Ahmedabad. There are talksof some skyscrapers. Lets see what happens.

[Suncity]

Photos from http://www.scity.org/gallery.asp

[29A]

O.k., but not anything out of the ordinary. This was supposed to be a "science city", but now it has been turned into a amusement park!. what a shame

[kronik]

Sabarmati riverfront project to be ready by `07

More than a decade after the Sabarmati riverfront development project was conceptualised, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation said that the entire project ill be completed by 2007.

The project proposes to take up the embankments on both sides of the Sabarmati river along the entire 20 km stretch from Narmada Canal to Vasna barrage.

The project envisages three new bridges on the river, hotels, gardens on the western and eastern flanks of the river, shopping arcades, heritage parks, a retail street, extensions of the existing Tilak and B J Park on either sides of the river, commercial developments and public utilities on the banks of Sabarmati. As part of the project, Sabarmati will be rejuvenated by Narmada waters.

[29A]

Good!
It will not be enough however. They NEED to take care of the pollution however. It is probably the most polluted cities in India. The CO levels in the air are far worse that even Mumbai. Every time I go there(once a month) i develop breathing problems

[Suncity]

Business Centre, Ahmedabad

[Suncity]

Finally a panorama!!!

[indiafastforward]

Originally Posted by 29A

Good!
It will not be enough however. They NEED to take care of the pollution however. It is probably the most polluted cities in India. The CO levels in the air are far worse that even Mumbai. Every time I go there(once a month) i develop breathing problems

Ahmedabad is beset by a slew of fundamental problems. The air is HORRENDOUS and has anyone taken a look at its public transport system. The buses there are rotting rust buckets on wheels! A very dangerous city. I was there visiting family in December, 2002, and lived there between 1988 and 1990. It's a vibrant city but whose municipal government is wholly and criminally inept so news announcing its revitalization is viewed with great skepticism.

[Luckystreak]