A heritage building does not always disappear because nobody knew it was important. Sometimes, it disappears while the paperwork to protect it is still moving.
That is what has happened in Ahmedabad, where seven historically significant structures have been demolished before the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) could formally give them heritage protection.
The buildings were among hundreds identified for conservation, but a 12-year delay in completing the tagging process meant that recognition did not translate into protection in time.
The episode raises a larger question for historic cities across India: what happens to a building that is officially recognised as important, but remains legally vulnerable for years? In Ahmedabad, the answer is now visible.
Among the structures lost are Tripathi House and a heritage chabutaro in Sarkhej, Harshvardhan Mangaldas House near Parimal Garden, Kaloliya Vadi Temple on Kankaria Road, the heritage gate of Vachlo Vas in Mithakhali village, and the Rector’s Bungalow and Commerce College building at Gujarat College.
AMC officials discovered the demolitions only when they recently began inspecting 382 structures proposed for heritage tagging.
From 861 historic buildings to 382 proposed for protection
The process began back in December 2014, when AMC commissioned the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) to survey historically important buildings outside Ahmedabad’s Old City. INTACH identified 861 structures.
After assessment, 382 were selected and graded according to their historical and architectural significance. But the formal protection process remained pending for years.
The latest exercise is finally moving forward. AMC’s heritage and recreational committee approved the proposal on August 24, 2026, followed by clearance from the standing committee. The civic body is now preparing to invite public objections and suggestions.
But the inspection brought an uncomfortable discovery: seven of the buildings on the heritage list had already disappeared.
A problem that goes beyond Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad is not the only Indian city where historic buildings face pressure from redevelopment, neglect, changing land values and delays in formal protection.
India’s heritage is spread far beyond monuments protected by the Archaeological Survey of India or state archaeology departments. Old homes, schools, public buildings, religious structures, markets and smaller architectural features often carry local histories but may not have the same legal protection as nationally protected monuments. This creates a gap between heritage recognition and heritage protection.
A structure can be identified in a survey, graded for its importance and recommended for conservation, yet remain vulnerable until the relevant authority completes the legal process.
Ahmedabad’s experience shows the consequence of that gap in concrete terms: seven structures identified for protection no longer exist.
Even the most vulnerable structures can wait
The 382 structures have been divided into four heritage grades:
Grade 1: 52
Grade 2A: 38
Grade 2B: 49
Grade 3: 243
Their physical condition also raises concerns. Around 18% were found to be in good condition and 37% in fair condition. Another 25% showed signs of deterioration, while 15% were in serious deterioration.
Five per cent were classified as being in the “danger of disappearance” category. That classification is significant because it suggests that the threat is not always a sudden demolition. Heritage can also disappear slowly through neglect, deterioration and the absence of maintenance.
Ahmedabad’s UNESCO status adds another layer
Ahmedabad was declared India’s first UNESCO World Heritage City in July 2017. But the city’s heritage is not limited to its famous Old City precinct.
There are historically important buildings outside the walled city, including Gujarat Vidyapith, Gujarat College, the Circuit House and Fatehbag Palace in Fatehwadi village. According to an AMC official, there are around 400 such historic structures outside the Old City.
Their preservation is important not only because of their age or architecture, but because they document different phases of the city’s social, educational, political and cultural history.
Some buildings were saved — but only after intervention
There are also examples showing that intervention can prevent heritage loss.
The Old Circuit House in Shahibaug faced a demolition proposal from the state government’s Roads and Buildings Department. AMC raised objections citing its historical importance, and the demolition plan was eventually dropped.
AMC approached the police when structures at the Gaekwad Haveli complex in Raikhad faced demolition, and the demolition was stopped. A historic educational institution near Raikhad Crossroads was also saved from demolition and later renovated after AMC intervened.
These cases show that government intervention can protect historic buildings when action comes before demolition. But they also highlight the importance of having a clear legal framework in place before a structure reaches that point.
The legal gap makes the delay more serious
At present, AMC does not have the legal authority to stop the demolition of every historically important structure that has not been included on the heritage lists of the Centre or the state.
That leaves a grey area for buildings that have been identified as historically significant by the city but are still waiting for formal protection. For Ahmedabad, the current proposal could close part of that gap.
Once the 382 surviving structures receive heritage protection, they will be protected from demolition under the proposed framework. AMC is also considering incentives such as Transferable Development Rights (TDR) for property owners and is working on a policy for their conservation. But seven buildings have already been lost.
The lesson for India’s historic cities
The Ahmedabad case points to a larger heritage challenge for India: identification alone cannot preserve history. Surveys can document buildings. Committees can grade them. Reports can recommend protection. But if the legal and administrative process takes years, the physical structure may not survive long enough to receive that protection.
For a country with historic cities, old neighbourhoods and thousands of culturally important structures, the issue is not simply how many heritage buildings are listed. It is how quickly a building moves from “identified as heritage” to “protected as heritage.” In Ahmedabad, that gap has already cost seven structures.
The question now is whether the remaining 382 will receive protection before the next heritage inspection finds more buildings that exist only in old photographs and government records.
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