Gandhinagar to get riverfront project

AHMEDABAD: Soon, Gandhinagar will be gifted with the ultimate hangout zone. The capital city is set to have its own riverfront project, complete with a joggers’ park, space for doing yoga and meditation, government-run cafeterias and eateries.

Along the Sabarmati river, a 7.6-km-long stretch between Shahpur and Chiloda bridges has been earmarked for the green capital’s own riverfront project. Soon you will be able to drive down to the riverfront, park your cars and take endless strolls in the wild amidst chirping of birds chirping and gurgle of Sabarmati river. A weir is being constructed near Torrent power plant in Sabarmati.

This weir would hold water up to an average 4.6 metres which will mean ample water in the Sabarmati till Gandhinagar. If Ahmedabad’s riverfront is all about towering skylines, engulfing an uneasy bustle, this riverfront would be quite different. It is touted as a sincere effort towards preserving the solitude and beauty of a riverfront, especially since the twin cities of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar yearn for public space. With green landscaping and solitude, the idea is to draw people for walks amidst birds of wetland that throng this place.

“Walkways will be made to take you deep into the heart of forest area — close to Indroda park. And yes, no trees shall be cut to make way for this project. Special care will be taken to preserve bird habitats. For recreational activities, an amphitheatre, sports clubs and government-run riverside eateries will be provided,” says a senior official of the Roads and Building (R&B) department. In the initial stage the R&B department has earmarked a budget of Rs 75 lakh for paying consultants appointed for the purpose.

In March this year the department called for bids to identify consultants for the project. The consultants would prepare in detail the site development, planning and estimate the project cost for the R&B department. “The project would monitored by the state government and a base plan for earmarking space for the project is being currently carried out by Gandhinagar Urban Development Authority (GUDA),” says a senior official of the R&B department.