Ahmedabad Societies Offer Land for Road Widening to Fast-Track Redevelopment
In a groundbreaking move, several housing societies in Vastrapur village, Ahmedabad, have stepped forward to voluntarily surrender portions of their land for road widening. This initiative aims to accelerate the redevelopment of their aging buildings, allowing for the construction of taller structures in exchange for improved infrastructure.
Regulatory Hurdles and Traffic Congestion
According to the state's comprehensive general development control regulations, the permissible height of new constructions in urban areas is directly linked to the width of the surrounding roads. This rule had effectively stalled the redevelopment of numerous societies in Ahmedabad, including those in Vastrapur, where roads measure only 7 metres, 7.5 metres, and 9 metres in width. As these older societies remained undeveloped, traffic congestion in the area worsened, creating a pressing need for intervention.
AMC Approval and Voluntary Land Donation
The standing committee of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has now authorized the municipal commissioner to proceed with widening the roads around Vastrapur village. In an unprecedented gesture, societies in the vicinity, such as Rajtilak Apartments, Tulsi Shyam Apartments, Chandrapuri Apartments, and Dharmjeevan Apartments, have agreed to provide land without seeking any compensation. The AMC will undertake the road-widening process, which is expected to alleviate traffic problems and kickstart the redevelopment of these old societies.
Breaking from Traditional Procedures
Typically, proposals for road widening by the AMC are not approved on an emergency basis. They are usually incorporated into the development plan for Ahmedabad city, with compensation required if land is deducted from privately owned plots or societies—a process that often imposes a significant financial burden on the corporation. However, in this case, the voluntary land donation bypasses the need for compensation, streamlining the approval process.
The proposal approved by the standing committee highlights that the development of Vastrapur village and its surrounding area occurred years ago, with a town planning scheme created by the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (Auda). At that time, roads with widths of 6 metres, 7.5 metres, and 9 metres were approved based on the era's needs. Over the years, three- or four-storey residential societies were built on these narrow roads, leading to persistent traffic congestion.
Future Implications and Benefits
Under the new authorization, the municipal commissioner has been empowered to widen the roads to 12 metres. Importantly, the proposal specifies that in this town planning scheme, land deduction from plots reserved for public purposes will not occur. This move is set to not only ease local traffic issues but also unlock the potential for taller, modern buildings in Vastrapur, marking a significant step forward in urban redevelopment efforts in Ahmedabad.
