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Home , Ahmedabad, Ashaval, History of Ahmedabad, Sabarmati (area), Sabarmati River, Sabarmati Riverfront

RECONNECTING THE CITY WITH ITS RIVER · RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN

RECONNECTING THE CITY WITH ITS RIVER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN AHMEDABAD APARNA JOSHI

48 ISOCARP APARNA JOSHI

Ahmedabad, located in western on the banks of the , is the largest city in the State of . The river has served as Ahmedabad’s lifeline for ages and has been an integral part of the rich his- tory of the city. It has been a major source for drinking water and informal recreational activities for the city. However, with rapid and haphazard urban growth by the end of twentieth century, the river became neg- lected, inaccessible and polluted. The city had turned its back towards the river. Riverfront development was a subject of interest to various city professionals since 1960s, but it was in 1997 that comprehensive planning was undertaken to transform Ahmedabad’s riverfront. Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project is a multi-dimensional project with several objectives. It aims to reclaim the private river-edge and turn it into a public asset thereby redefine the city’s relationship with its river by creating a thriving, people-centric network of parks, waterside promenades and civic facilities in the heart of the city. The project’s political objective is to provide a highly visible and robust urban renewal project around which the entire city can constructively rally. It is a first project of its kind in India. It is ongoing but already demonstrates that such projects can positively transform the city and be implemented in a fractious democracy like India, which is also why it has been much-talked about during the recent national elec- tions. This paper describes the project’s background, objectives and its unique features.

Figure 1: Night view of the completed lower promenade. Source: Dinesh Mehta for HCP Design, Planning & Management Pvt. Ltd.

REVIEW 10 49 RECONNECTING THE CITY WITH ITS RIVER · SABARMATI RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN AHMEDABAD

BACKGROUND ents from the city polluted the river through storm- water outfalls and natural drains at many locations. Ahmedabad, the former capital of Gujarat, has In addition to the declining ecological health, traditionally been a major centre for industries as the river itself became inaccessible to the majority well as trade and commerce and was also called of the city’s residents. Many property owners along the ‘Manchester of India’ on account of its textile the banks built their own retaining walls to protect industry. It is the fifth largest city in India, the lar- their properties from flood erosion. As a result of gest city of Gujarat and also its commercial capital. both-private ownership of most riverside land and The stretches as far back as the informal settlements, few public access points in the 11th century and is linked with old towns of remained. By the 1970s, the only places where and Karnavati. In the year 1411 AD, Sultan most citizens could enjoy the expanse of the river Ahmed Shah built the citadel on the eastern bank running through the heart of the city was from the of the Sabarmati and encouraged development of view provided by the several bridges spanning the trade and commerce. In 1456 AD, an enclosing wall river. was constructed defining the city-limits. With the On account of the aforementioned develop- coming of the railway around 1860, development ments, the river no longer played a significant role began to spill over to the north-east and south-east in the life of the city residents. The urban center beyond the walled city. It was with the construction lacked focus and new developments were moving of the first bridge, that Ahmedabad began to ex- outwards from the river reinforcing the existing pand across the western bank. With the Sabarmati divide between the Western and the Eastern parts River flowing north-south, the river now bisects the of the city. The untreated sewage that flowed from city into its western and eastern halves. stormwater outfalls, natural drains and pock- The river has always been significant for the ets on both banks of the river posed a public health city. First and foremost as the city’s prime source threat because Ahmedabad continued to depend of water. founded his ashram on French wells dug into the riverbed for a signifi- on the riverbank which came to be known as the cant portion of its municipal water supply. . Gandhi began his from here in 1930, thus making the river a historic THE FIRST STEPS backdrop to India’s freedom struggle. Since the river is seasonal, during the drier months, the river- Responding to the plight of Sabarmati River and bed offered space for farming and a place for oc- seeing an opportunity to create usable, attract- casional gathering and recreation. ive public space for Ahmedabad’s residents, the The city began to industrialise and grow during French architect Bernard Kohn, who was then the early twentieth century, and by mid-century it residing in Ahmedabad, (in collaboration with Ka- was considered the hub of the textile industry in mal Mangaldas, a city-based architect, Anil Bakeri, the East. With the rapid growth and as land in the an engineer, and a few others) was the first to pro- city came under more intense uses, the city’s trad- pose the development of a portion of the Sabar- itional Sunday flea market was moved to the river- mati riverbank in the 1960s. bank. The wide, oft-dry riverbed and riverbanks In addition, the Sabarmati River underwent a were used to launder clothes and to dye textiles. number of post-independence projects to improve Many of the city’s poor and migrant population, the irrigation network, power generation and flood unable to afford formal housing elsewhere, began control within the state. First, a flood control dam to live in informal hutments along the riverbanks. was built in 1976 at Dharoi (approximately 200km However, these settlements had no tenure and upstream of Ahmedabad) so that the ‘floods’ that lacked even the basic municipal services, thus re- Ahmedabad sees now are discharges from Dharoi sulting in unhygienic living conditions and pollu- Dam- announced twelve hours in advance of the tion of the river. During the monsoon period, these released water arriving in Ahmedabad. Second was settlements were vulnerable and disastrously flood the construction of a barrage, also built in 1976 at prone. All these uses and abuses took their toll on Vasna which is just downstream of Ahmedabad, the river. Untreated domestic and industrial efflu- which serves to retain water in the Sabarmati. This

50 ISOCARP APARNA JOSHI

Figure 2 (top): Untreated sewage flowed into the river from informal settlements and adjoining areas through stormwater outfalls. Source: HCPDPM

Figure 3 (bottom) : The river had become inaccessible. Source: HCPDPM

REVIEW 10 51 RECONNECTING THE CITY WITH ITS RIVER · SABARMATI RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN AHMEDABAD retained water is diverted by the Fatehwadi Canal there was a major shift in the state’s policy as it for irrigation in areas south-west of Ahmedabad. redirected its traditional focus on rural areas to- Finally, the just upstream of Ah- wards urban centres. medabad was completed. Together these independent projects had a PROJECT INCEPTION profound effect on Ahmedabad. The risk of major floods was greatly reduced. The Vasna Barrage en- In May 1997, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corpora- abled water retention in the entire length of the tion (AMC) established a wholly owned Special river within the city. The Narmada Canal, which Purpose Vehicle - the Sabarmati River Front De- crosses the river a few kilometres upstream from velopment Corporation Ltd (SRFDCL)3 to explore the city, makes it possible to replenish the barrage- the project. AMC commissioned The Environ- retained water that is used up for irrigation or is mental Planning Collaborative (EPC) to prepare lost to evaporation and seepage. These projects, al- a comprehensive feasibility study to develop a though unrelated, make it possible for Ahmedabad 9-km stretch of the city’s riverfront. EPC provided to have a perennial lake in the middle of the city. a schematic proposal incorporating all different In 1976, a group of local professionals1 came aspects of the project and development manage- together as the River Front Development Group ment services to SRFDCL until 2002. During this (RFDG) to propose an incremental approach to period, its mandate was to direct and monitor all creating a public riverfront along the riverbanks the preparatory work until the project took off in (RFDG 1976). However, these proposals never February 2004. In 2004, the land comprising of the moved past the conceptual stage2. riverbed (162.80 ha) was transferred by the State The city then went through a period of sig- government to AMC for implementation of the nificant decline from the mid-1970s until the project. SRFDCL’s role was on a “Build, Maintain, mid-1990s, due to the collapse of its once-robust Operate and Transfer” (BMOT) basis. SRFDCL then textile industry. With the beginnings of India’s appointed HCP Design Planning and Manage- economic liberalization during the 1990s, the city ment Pvt. Ltd. (HCPDPM) to lead the urban design, significantly improved its financial situation by re- architectural and structural aspects of the project. vamping the taxation and collection system. Also, Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project

52 ISOCARP APARNA JOSHI showcases how an effective partnership among ate 11.25 kilometers of public riverfront on both politicians, bureaucrats and private-sector rep- the banks. The total land reclamation is around resentatives can achieve results. The project was 200 hectare. launched and successfully progressed due to the In the master plan for the project, the main political support of Surendra Patel, a local polit- considerations in allocating land uses for the re- ical leader, the support from Keshav Varma, the claimed portions were: existing land uses along Municipal Commissioner at the time and the sub- the river; extent, location and configuration of sequent Commissioners, and the proactive ap- reclaimed land available; potential for develop- proach of Dr. , the architect and urban ment; the structural road network and form of planner who led the team of consultants which the city; bridges proposed in the Ahmedabad De- conceptualised the Riverfront Project. velopment Plan, and the possibility of providing adequate infrastructure for new development. DEVELOPING THE RIVERFRONT The following are the main objectives of AND ITS OBJECTIVES the project: ∙ Make the riverfront accessible to the public; The Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project is ∙ Stop the flow of sewage, and keep the river a multi-dimensional project aiming towards en- clean and pollution free; vironmental improvement, social upliftment and ∙ Reduce the risk of erosion and flooding in urban rejuvenation of Ahmedabad. By reclaiming flood-prone neighbourhoods; the private river edge as a public asset, it focuses ∙ Provide permanent housing for riverbed slum to improve the city’s spatial structure, restore its dwellers; relationship with the river and provide benefits to ∙ Provide public spaces and socio-cultural all strata of the society. amenities; The Riverfront Project presents a great op- ∙ Rejuvenate riverfront neighbourhoods; portunity to create a public edge to the river on ∙ Generate resources to self-finance the project. the eastern and western sides of Ahmedabad. By channeling the river to a constant width of 275 Figure 4: Master Plan. meters, riverbed land has been reclaimed to cre- Source: HCPDPM

REVIEW 10 53 RECONNECTING THE CITY WITH ITS RIVER · SABARMATI RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN AHMEDABAD

Figure 5: Aerial view of the Riverfront interceptor sewer lines and land filling in April 2012. The major infrastructural had been completed. Source: Dinesh framework such as retaining walls, Mehta for HCP DPM

Accessible riverfront Together, these promenades provide Ahmeda- The project aims at socialising Ahmedabad’s bad with a nearly 23 kilometer long pedestrian riverfront. By reclaiming a total of 200 hectares of walkway in the heart of the city. punctuate riverbed land on both sides of the river, along a the lower level promenade at planned intervals to 11.5 kilometers, the project replaces a largely pri- provide access to the water. Boating Stations at the vate riverfront with a public realm and with an ex- lower level enable water recreation and will offer pansive network of parks, waterside promenades, another mode of public transport in the future. markets, cultural institutions, recreational facili- Stretches of these lower level promenades are now ties and commercial developments for the city’s open to the public. For the first time, it has been 5 million residents to enjoy. The reclaimed land possible for the people of Ahmedabad to stroll un- makes Ahmedabad’s riverfront a public asset. interrupted, along the length of the river. The key feature of this project is a two-level, The provision of north-south linkages also continuous promenade at the water’s edge along strengthens the existing transportation network each bank of the river. The lower promenade has of the city. To improve access to the riverfront an average width of 10 meters. It is built just above and facilities built along it, a number of streets the water level to serve pedestrians and cyclists leading up to the river are being improved and only and to provide access to the water. The upper some new streets are being developed. Most of promenade is being built to host a variety of public the proposed streets are under construction. The features including new areas for commercial and new streets are designed with wide footpaths and retail development, leisure activities, large parks designated cycle tracks to improve and encour- and plazas, public washrooms and retail kiosks. age pedestrian access to the river.

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Figure 6: Existing view – Shopping plaza at Vallabhsadan (top); Shopping plaza envisioned at Vallabhsadan on the western bank between and Gandhi bridge (bottom). Source: HCP DPM

Pollution-free river to the lack of real-time data based flood control The second objective is to effectively manage the system. To minimize damage, both banks of the river as critical infrastructure. The project aims at river have diaphragm walls built into the river- stopping the flow of untreated sewage into the bed at a depth of more than 10 meters to prevent river and, preventing future pollution. To prevent scouring. The retaining walls have been designed, untreated sewage from flowing into the river, based on hydraulic studies, to provide protection the riverfront development includes two major from periodic flooding and prevent erosion of the interceptor sewer lines on both banks of the river, river banks. The river has been channelized to a capturing 38 sewage discharge points and rout- constant width without altering the flood carry- ing sewage with new pumping stations in the re- ing capacity and it can now sustain flood levels of claimed banks. These lines carry untreated sewage 4.75 lac cusecs without spillage into the city. to the two recently augmented sewage treatment plants at Pirana and Vasna. The treated water from Permanent housing for riverbed dwellers these plants will be used in the future to replenish The project aims at resettling over 10,000 house- the river, thus making it a more sustainable option holds and improving the lives of their residents in the long run than using Narmada water. currently living in along the banks of the river. All those affected are in the process of be- Reduce the risk of erosion and flooding ing relocated and provided with ‘pucca’ housing in low-lying areas with secured tenure. This process provides each Even with the dam at Dharoi there remains a risk claimant a permanent, titled housing in one of of flooding in the low-lying areas of the city, due the many relocation sites interspersed within the

REVIEW 10 55 RECONNECTING THE CITY WITH ITS RIVER · SABARMATI RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN AHMEDABAD

Figure 7: Existing view – Eastern Bank (top); River promenade, on the east bank, is envisioned here as seen from Gandhi Bridge on Uttarayan, the flying festival (bottom). Source: HCP DPM city’s boundaries and is being carried out under Apart from parks and plazas, many new public the supervision of the Gujarat High Court. As of facilities are being built on the reclaimed land – now, approximately 4,300 households from the to include sections with particular needs. The riverfront slums have been resettled in pucca historic ‘Ravivari’ market, an outdoor flea market housing, where they now enjoy secure tenure and hosted on Sundays on the Sabarmati riverbanks, basic services while another 1,700 households has been refurbished as Riverfront Market at a have been allotted housing and their resettle- permanent site adjacent to its previous location. ment is imminent. Another 4,300 households will The market has been enhanced with specially de- be allotted new houses in due process. signed stalls and vending areas. Though work is ongoing, major portions that have been complet- Network of Public Spaces and Amenities ed at the Riverfront Market have been opened for The project will provide many new parks and public use in January 2014 with improved facili- gardens on the reclaimed land, some of which ties such as well-lit seating areas, paved walkways, are already completed and recently opened for food courts, vehicular access, parking and public public use. These parks shall enhance liveability in washrooms. SRFDCL plans to make this open-air the area that they are located and provide the city market usable throughout the week which will of- with the much needed green space and respite fer opportunities for the vendors of the city. from the built environment. One recently com- A laundry campus has been created to pro- pleted Riverfront Park near the vide facilities for the washing community that (January 2014) is already a local attraction, get- used the river banks for laundering. The recently ting around fifteen thousand visitors every week. constructed facility on the eastern bank is spread

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Figure 8: Existing view – Gardens at Khanpur (top); gardens at Khanpur between Gandhi bridge and Nehru bridge on eastern bank (bottom). Source: HCP DPM over an approximately 9,400 square meters area transportation, and safe and liveable conditions and is provided with vehicular access, parking in communities across socio-economic levels. and lighting within the site. Seven blocks have For example, the Central Business District of metered water supply, drainage system and elec- Ahmedabad is one such precinct which is pres- trical supply. ently characterised by low-density development The Riverfront will also host trade-fair facilities with poor utilisation of land. However, the recent to serve the business community. Integrated out- Development Plan for the city has acknowledged door vending areas, situated all along the length the need for redevelopment and is presently con- of the project to accommodate informal vendors sulting for a comprehensive plan for densification will ensure that street vendors also benefit from in order to encourage compact mixed-use, tran- the project. sit-oriented development with a more walkable, accessible, vibrant and viable built environment. Urban Rejuvenation Another goal of the project is to bring new life Self-Financed to the centre of the city and spur broad-based The project is designed to be self-financing – to urban reinvestment and revitalization in the sur- achieve its objectives without relying on any rounding neighbourhoods. Eighteen precincts funding from the government4. A small portion have been identified which will undergo gradual of the reclaimed land will be sold for commercial ‘upgradation’ to benefit residents and workers development to generate adequate resources to in central Ahmedabad by promoting integrated pay for developing the riverfront and managing and high-density growth, walkability and public it. While the major infrastructural components of

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Figure 9: Riverfront Park: Subhash Bridge is the first park that has been completed in the project. Source: Dinesh Mehta for HCP DPM

Figure 10: A view of the Riverfront Market from . Source: Dinesh Mehta for HCP DPM

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Figure 11: Laundry Campus for the washing community. Source: Dinesh Mehta for HCP DPM

the project are almost complete, it has already long waterside pedestrian realm, is complete. A led to increased land values, thus reducing the few stretches of the promenade have been made percentage of land for sale from that originally open to the public. Two of the many proposed thought necessary. The private developments parks have been completed and are now open that will be built on the riverfront will be carefully to the public. Though implementation has taken controlled by volumetric regulations to ensure longer than anticipated, the pace of work has not that the built environment along the riverfront is suffered on account of lack of funds. The project’s harmonious and has a memorable skyline. financial viability has never been in question and is still well assured. PROGRESS TO DATE One of the many challenges that had to be en- countered in bringing forward the vision for the The Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project is project was addressing people’s apprehensions far from complete. Its grand ambitions have yet and dispelling their misconceptions, due to lack to be realized. However, the project is well under- of clear understanding of the serious dimensions way. So far (as of June 2014), most of its heavy of the project. ‘Focus group’ discussions, presen- engineering and land reclamation works are tations and a proactive communications strategy complete. Almost all of the interceptor sewage has been employed5, to meaningfully engage and lines and sewage pumping stations are in place. involve the various stakeholders. Such meetings Much of the work on the lower level river prom- appraise them of the project’s many facets and enades, which will provide a twenty‐kilometre‐ enable stakeholders to ask their many questions

REVIEW 10 59 RECONNECTING THE CITY WITH ITS RIVER · SABARMATI RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN AHMEDABAD and to address their many apprehensions. Forging ment; socialization of its riverfront; nurture an a very effective working partnership between inclusive developmental process; and self-finance politicians, bureaucrats, and private-sector pro- public improvements by making growth pay for fessional and business leaders; vesting decision- development. making authority in the Board of SRFDCL; using a collaborative and consensual approach; and, por- IMPACT OF THE PROJECT traying the project as a bipartisan civic project– all of these mechanisms were crucial to the success- Indian towns and cities are rapidly expanding ful launch and early progress of the project. but their natural assets have been neglected The project has won many awards and accol- and abused over the years. The progress of this ades such as the Prime Minister’s National Award project has emboldened other Indian cities to for Excellence in Urban Planning and Design for steer the growth and upgrade their urban core its innovative approach to urban development. and assets to improve the lives of its citizens. Many see SRFD as a pioneering urban develop- Smaller towns in Gujarat such as ment project, which is already showing Indian cit- and Shyamlaji have sought the professional ex- ies the way forward. There are regular visitors and pertise of the team from HCP DPM and positive delegations from cities all across India wanting transformation of their respective waterfronts to know more about the project. From this per- are underway while other larger Gujarati cities spective, it can be seen as a remarkable attempt - and are also looking into the to transform the city and clean up its environ- feasibility of undertaking similar projects.

Figure 12: River Promenade during the Kite Festival in January 2012. Source: Dinesh Mehta for HCP DPM

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Long seen as a landmark project in Gujarat, it and the reclaimed space is home to several events has become much-talked about even at the na- such as the Kite festival. Over the years, the pro- tional level since the recent parliamentary elec- ject has become a part of the public realm and tions. Amidst the increasing angst against the in- gradually transformed into the new centre of Ah- efficiency and the general lack of improvement in medabad, creating a new identity for it. the state of things, this project demonstrates in a very tangible way that positive transformation is possible within a democratic set-up such as India. It is the first project of its kind in the nation that holistically addresses the issues for urban renewal. The Sabarmati riverfront development project Endnotes is a unique urban project being built in the heart 1 Prominent amongst whom were Hasmukh Patel, a practising of an existing city, stitching together the East and architect, also head of the School of Architecture; Rasu Vakil, a structural engineer and GN Tambe, a progressive civil West banks of the river. The project has brought engineer contractor 2 See Shah (1981) for details about the proposals by Bernard the river back to the city and the people back Kohn and RFDG to the river. The simple joy of being able to walk 3 Under Section 149(3) of the Companies Act 1956 4 (EPC 1998, SRFDCL 2011) along the river bank, to sit in a garden and enjoy 5 Often by HCPDPM, the lead consultant. An exhibition was independently envisioned and produced in 2011 by HCPDPM the serene beauty of the river is now a reality. with large scale renderings to communicate the project’s Even while development is ongoing, completed vision and explain its benefits to the general public. Each of the twelve renderings showed the transformation of places new facilities are already being used by the public along the riverfront.

Figure 13: Lower-level River Promenade. Source: Dinesh Mehta for HCPDPM

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