Real Estate Studies and Management Academy History of Transportation Demand in Ahmedabad by N.K. Patel President GICEA Early Days Real Estate Studies and Management Academy • In early days, like every other city, Ahmedabad residents use to walk on foot to transport themselves from one place to another. • With passage of time, bicycles became popular soon before automobiles were introduced. • The primary reason for transportation was to travel from Home to work and back. Real Estate Studies and Management Transportation needs Academy • Transportation needs grow when the city starts expanding. • Ahmedabad started expanding on the north-east side with growth of textile mills ( due to south-west wind direction) • This growth was promoted by nearness to railway station and the wall city area which was just 3 km. away. • Areas such as Gomtipur, Rakhiyal and Asarwa developed as textile mill hubs. • Mill workers were able to get accomodation in the nearby residences such as Chawls. Real Estate Studies and Management Decay of Eastern Ahmedabad Academy • Due to closure of textile mills all type of Real Estate stock deteriorated due to lack of maintenance. • Due to Pollution higher income group people preferred to migrate in the western ahmedabad. • Till 1987 the majority of eastern Ahmedabad development was outside the AMC limits so no basic infrastructure was made available. • Establishment of GIDC estates contributed to the growth of slums where Industrial workers resided. Real Estate Studies and Management Decay of Eastern Ahmedabad Academy • ULCRA also contributed illegal construction. • Due to cheaper housing availability, new migrants from U.P. and Bihar settled in these areas. • All these factors resulted in worsening the Law and order situation. Real Estate Studies and Management Years of Growth Academy • In 1950s just after Independece, several landmarks were set-up in the city which created a demand for transportation. • Gandhi Ashram, Kocharab Ashram, Town hall, VS hospital, NID, Gujarat University, AES Campus, ATIRA, etc. were major landmarks in 1960s on the western side of the river. • At this time, Sahibaug land was expensive mostly occupied by mill owners and there was a scarcity of housing due to growing city population. Real Estate Studies and Management Years of Growth Academy • This resulted in development of some posh housing locations in western ahmedabad such as Paldi, Ambawadi and Navrangpura, where people of Higher and Higher-middle income groups occupied houses. • The development of urban areas in the west was also due to the linkages of Ellis bridge and Gandhi bridge across the river sabarmati. Real Estate Studies and Management Years of Growth Academy • The eastern Ahmedabad expanded further to industrial establishments of GIDC with areas such as Naroda, Odhav and Vatwa. • These areas were outside the AMC which were only included in late 1987. • All these factors contributed to the growth of transportation in the City where Majority of traffic went West To East in the Morning and East to West in the Evenings. • With closure of Textile mills and rapidly growing Western city, need for transportation planning increased. Real Estate Studies and Management Challenges for Transportation Academy • Efficient transport of any city depends on two prime factors. 1. Geographic Constraints ( example : Mumbai:- Barrier:- ocean, Shape:- linear) 1. Growth in Population, Vehicles, movement and economy in general. Ahmedabad has lacked geographic constraints, with no boundary control on development either in form of mountain, valley, or ocean. Real Estate Studies and Management Ahmedabad City Academy Photo By Google: http://earth.google.com Real Estate Studies and Management Population Growth Academy Ahmedabad Population 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 Projected 2010 (in Population in Lacs AUDA Plan) POPULATION Real Estate Studies and Management Growth of Vehicles Academy Year (month) Two Wheelers Cars Total Vehicles Annual % Change 2002 (DEC) 8.8 Lakhs 1.4 Lakhs 13.2 Lakhs 2003 (JUN) 9.1 Lakhs 1.5 Lakhs 13.7 Lakhs + 7.10% 2003 (DEC) 9.5 Lakhs 1.6 Lakhs 14.1 Lakhs 2004 (JUN) 10.7 Lakhs 1.9 Lakhs 14.9 Lakhs + 8.75% 2004 (DEC) 11.3 Lakhs 2.1 Lakhs 15.5 Lakhs 2005 (JUN) 12.0 Lakhs 2.3 Lakhs 16.4 Lakhs + 10.00% Number of Two Wheelers have increased by 36% in last 3 years. (More than 1/3rd times) Number of Cars have increased by 65% in last 3 years (More than 2/3rd times) Real Estate Studies and Management Misjudged Vision Academy • Early Ahmedabad Development civic bodies lacked a vision to see the future of city in next 4 decades. • The Development plan of AUDA in year 1981 does not compliment the present demands nor was proficient in carving out the future transportation needs of the city. • No separate Transportation plan or implementation strategy has been worked out till date. Real Estate Studies and Management Misjudged Vision Academy • No initiative for decentralizing the market of walled city areas • De-centralization of state transport services. • Lack of specialized Road linkages between east and west. • In last 3 decades no new bridge has been built by AMC across the river. • In 1980s AMC was financially un sound which contributed to the inefficiency of AMTS Real Estate Studies and Management Final Word Academy • Finally we are seeing some new initiatives for developing Mass transportation in the city (Metro rail and Mass rapid transit) and the only question we need to ask ourselves is, are we planning it for next 30 years?.