The Ahmedabad Urban Development Plan-making Process: A Critical Review

Abstract

This paper critically reviews the city plan-making process in Ahmedabad, India. The aim is to review the process to establish its strengths and weaknesses. It is shown that the Ahmedabad Development Plan lacks analytical rigour and transparency and there is lack of clarity on how the final plan was finally decided. The mismatch between objectives and the means to achieve it is also shown. It is believed that such a critical review will be of interest to planners in India and other developing countries. In addition, it is intended to promote and formulate a more analytical and scientific approach to planning.

Acknowledgements

Gratitude is expressed to Cambridge Commonwealth Trust, Hinduja Cambridge Trust, Churchill College, and Kettle's Yard Travel Fund for part funding support. Sharing their expert views on Ahmedabad Development Plan and related issues by B. R. Balachandra and Sweta Byahut is duly acknowledged. Thanks to AUDA and AMC planners and executive officers for providing opportunities to discuss relevant issues and for sharing some insights, data, and reports. All tables and figures are created by the author unless mentioned otherwise. The views expressed in this paper are solely those of the author.

Notes

1. The FSI, also known to as the floor area ratio in some countries, is the ratio of total built-up area to the plot area. For example, a plot admeasuring 100 m² with an FSI of 1.8 means a maximum of 180 m² built-up area can be constructed on that plot. The FSI in conjunction with ground coverage (usually specified as percentage or plot coverage (or margins)) determines the height of the building on a given site.

2. This value is not exactly the same as that stated in , but is near enough. Using this figure, the average density works out to be 179.26 instead of 175 pph.

3. R1 zoning allows a maximum FSI of 1.8 and R2 allows a maximum FSI of 1.2, with building height restrictions of 10 m or G +2 storeys, whichever is less. In general, the development in R2 is expected to be low-rise, medium density.

4. The TCPO, the technical arm of the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India, is an apex technical advisory and consultant organization on matters concerning urban and regional planning strategies, research, appraisal, and monitoring of central government schemes and development policies.