The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is seeking public opinion before permanently closing a 500m stretch of Ashram Road, which runs from Cargo Motors Road to Batrisi Bhavan near RTO. The civic body had initially planned to close the road on December 15, but the plan was delayed due to the incomplete status of the alternate road and the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, held from January 10-12.
The road closure is part of the Vadaj Ramdevpir Tekra slum rehabilitation project and the Gandhi Ashram Memorial and Precinct Development Project. To accommodate the closed route, the AMC has constructed a new 18m wide alternative road, which starts near Cargo Motors, links to the existing 24m wide road through the Prabodh Raval Bridge, and further connects to the 132ft Ring Road. The west bank road of the Sabarmati riverfront will now directly link to the 24m road via Ramapir Tekra and connect to the main Ranip GSRTC bus stand.
Initially, the AMC intended to close the 500m stretch through a police notification. However, with the completion of the alternate road, the civic body has opted to seek public opinions and objections, as outlined in the Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporation (GPMC) Act 1949, to pre-empt any potential legal hurdles. Citizens are invited to submit their suggestions and objections by February 17.
In 2016, the AMC approved the Vadaj slum redevelopment project, dividing the 75-acre slum area into six sectors to construct approximately 8,000 housing units. Simultaneously, the ashram redevelopment project covering 55 acres is being developed at an estimated expenditure of Rs 1,200 crore.
On July 8, 2021, AMC’s standing committee approved a proposal to appoint a consultant for the depository work of the Gandhi Ashram Redevelopment Project. Approved depository works include the construction of a Rs 29.28 crore water supply distribution network, a Rs 12.21 crore sewer network, a Rs 28.62 crore stormwater disposal network, and a Rs 51.43 crore Chandrabhaga natural drain network, transforming the sewage-carrying drain into a waterbody.
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