Ahmedabad gets its first road redesigned under PPP mode ahead of VGGS; likely to be used during PM roadshow

Source: Indian Express

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has widened and redesigned the airport circle to Indira Bridge circle road — mostly used during VIP movement from the city to Gandhinagar — ahead of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit (VGGS). The stretch is expected to be used for the roadshow of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who has been invited as the chief guest for VGGS, Tuesday.

Calling it an ‘iconic’ road, the AMC has completed the project, the work of which started after Diwali, within 45 days. It is also the first road in the city under public private partnership (PPP) with Rajhans Group at an estimated cost of Rs 55 crore, AMC officials revealed.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Institute of Technology, Surat, also known as National Institute of Technology, Surat, was roped in to redesign the entire road with urban infrastructure and planning.

“Major challenges were the removal of encroachment for making road width 60 metres, shifting of underground utilities like electricity, gas and communication cable, and laying of new drinking water line and drainage and storm water network. The estate team has removed 86 commercial, 112 residential, 13 temples from the entire stretch,” AMC deputy municipal commissioner C R Kharsan said.

“Major challenges were the removal of encroachment for making road width 60 metres, shifting of underground utilities like electricity, gas and communication cable, and laying of new drinking water line and drainage and storm water network. The estate team has removed 86 commercial, 112 residential, 13 temples from the entire stretch,” AMC deputy municipal commissioner C R Kharsan said.

The 1,700-metre-long road, whose width was 40 metres under town planning, and has now been redeveloped in full width — 60 metres, comprising three-lane bituminous road on each side having a total width of 9.90 metres on either side. A central verge having out-to-out width of 1.5 metres with natural stone cladding, plantation and street light has also been developed. There is a multifunction zone on both the sides of the road that will be planned with parking, kiosk, front-lit hoardings, plantations, gantries, sculptures, fountains, and bus stops.

However, residents have raised concerns for pedestrians on the developed road. “There is a footpath along the road as a service road 7 metres wide and variable footpath with a minimum width of 3 metres,” Kharsan told this paper.