Sabarmati Riverfront: An urban regeneration and environment improvement initiative Transforming river from a geographical divider to a focal point for leisure and recreation Recognized in the list of ‘100 Most Innovative Projects’

1. Case study of Sabarmati riverfront
development
Plan 312: Urban Planning Studio
Presented by:
Group 05
Fabiha Rahman (1615007)
Fatema-Tuz-Zohora (1615009)
Md. Saiful Islam (1615026)
Date of presentation: 28.07.2019 1

2. Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project
2
• An urban regeneration and environment improvement initiative
• Transforming river from a geographical divider to a focal point for leisure and recreation
• Recognized in the list of ‘100 Most Innovative Projects’
(Trivedi et al., 2016)
Fig 01: Sabarmati riverfront development project (SRFDCL, n.d.)

3. Sabarmati Riverfront
Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Proposed in: 1960
Ground breaking: 2005
Opening date: August 2012
Cost: ₹ 1152 crore
Size: 501.1 acres
Support groups:
Architect: Bimal Patel-led HCP Design, Planning and Management Pvt. Ltd
Developer: Sabarmati River Front Development Corporation Limited
Initial fund provider: Central government
3(Mathur, 2012)(Trivedi et al., 2016);
Fig 02: Portion of Sabarmati riverfront (Mathur, 2012)

4. Aim and Objectives
Aim of the project:
to redefine an identity of Ahmedabad and reconnect the city with the river and positively
transform the neglected aspects of the riverfront.
4(Bismi, 2017)
• Reduction in erosion
and flood to
safeguard the city
• Sewage diversion to
clean the river
• Water retention and
recharge
Objectives
Environmental
Improvement: • Rehabilitation and
resettlement of
riverbed dwellers
and activities
• Creation of public
spaces
• Provision of socio-
cultural amenities
Social Infrastructure:
• Generation of
resources
• Revitalization of
neighborhoods
Sustainable
Development:

5. Ahmedabad and its need for riverfront development
5
Previous condition of Sabarmati:
• Parch riverbed
• Polluted water due to untreated sewage and industrial
waste (Mathur, 2012)
• Banks prone to flooding and lacked infrastructures
• Source of water-borne diseases
• Inaccessible for residents of two parts of the city
• Slums and squatters mushroomed nearby
(Bismi, 2017) ; (Ganguly, 2015)
Fig 04: wastes dumped near Sabarmati (Bismi, 2017) Fig 05: Slums along the river (SRFDCL, n.d.)
Fig 03: Ahmedabad Map (Bismi, 2017)

6. Initiatives taken
6
(Bismi, 2017)
Reclaiming
land
Reducing riverbed from a variable width of 600-300m to a fixed width of
275m reclaiming 185 ha land
Bank erosion
prevention
Construction of RCC diaphragm walls and anchor slabs
Sewage
diversion
Construction of interceptor sewers on both riverbanks for diverting
industrial wastewater to treatment plants of Vasna and Pirana.
Flood
protection
Construction of 3-9m RCC retaining walls.
Height is determined by the 100-year flood level
Vasna Barrage and Narmada Canal retain clean water which also recharges the
ground strata (Ganguly, 2015)
Water
retention

7. 7Fig 06: Condition of riverbank before and after the project (Bismi, 2017)

8. Land use map
8
Land use: Mostly residential, recreational and commercial space (Kaur, 2014)
Fig 07: Proposed landuse map (Bismi, 2017)

9. Recreational facilities
9
Fig 08: Proposed recreational facilities map (Bismi, 2017)

10. Completed and ongoing works
10
Fig 09: Completed and ongoing projects (Bismi, 2017)

11. Features: River Promenade
Two-level, uninterrupted promenade at the edge along each bank
• Lower-level: serve pedestrians and cyclists
• Upper level: (ongoing) shall host a variety of city level public features
Length: 11.5km, Width: 6-18m
Facilities:
• Staircases and ramps at regular intervals
• Lifts or Elevators for disabled people
• Concrete paved flooring to support jogging/ cycling
• Continuous seating arrangement with protective railing
• Security arrangements to handle entry-exit, emergencies
11
(Bismi, 2017); (Mathur, 2012)
Fig 10: Lower promenade after being opened
to citizens (Bismi, 2017)

12. Features: Parks and plazas
Use: social gatherings, formal and informal activities, national and international festivals etc.
Name Area Status
Riverfront Park: Subhash Bridge 1.8 ha Completed
Riverfront Park: Usmanpura 6 ha Completed
Flower garden 5 ha Completed
Amusement park - -
Urban Forest (paldi) 10.4 ha Ongoing
Vallabhsadan plaza 0.5 ha Proposed
Gandhi Ashram plaza - Proposed
Fig 13: View of Subhash bridge park
Fig 11: Plantation done for urban forest
12
(SRFDCL, n.d.)Fig 12: Flower garden
Table 01: parks and plazas in SRFDP

13. Features: Sports facilities
Facilities proposed with reference to its city and the surrounding context.
▪ Paldi Sports Complex (7.1 ha): city-level sports facilities
▪ Pirana Sports Ground (4.2 ha): informal sports and recreational uses
▪ Shahpur Sports Centre (2.4 ha): neighborhood-level sports facilities
13(SRFDCL, n.d.)
Fig 14: Proposed Pirana ground Fig 15: Proposed Shahpur centre

14. Features: Amenities
Status: Completed
• Riverfront Market: traditional flea market adjacent to its previous location
• Exhibition Centre: trade-fair facilities to serve the business community
• Events Ground: offers venues for holding events of local and national importance
• Laundry Campus: for traditional washing community
• Public washrooms, boating stations
14
(SRFDCL, n.d.)
Fig 16: Riverfront market
Fig 17: Laundry campus

15. Features: Residential & Commercial development
Fig 18: SRFDCL Office (SRFDCL, n.d.) 15
(Mathur, 2012); (Patrick, 2015); (SRFDCL, n.d.)
• 52 buildings including eight museums and four skyscrapers
• Floor space index (FSI) = 5 for maximum use of land
• SRFDCL House: energy efficient and environment friendly design
• 4000 houses for relocating 10000 slum dwellers
The funds raised by selling total 21% commercial land will recover the cost of the construction
and sustain the management of the riverfront.
Fig 19: Buildings for relocating slum dwellers (Bismi, 2017)

16. Recognition and impacts
• New cultural, trade, recreational and social institutions
• Tourist attraction
• Clean water & recharge of Ground water aquifers
• Elimination of Flood Hazard
• Vibrant and beautified urban neighborhoods
• Hosts several national and international events
Other cities including Vadodara and Surat in Gujarat, Pune, Varanasi and Chennai propose to
replicate the project (Ganguly, 2015); (Kaur, 2014); (SRFDCL, n.d.)
• Less importance given to the ghetto beside the river. Only 4400 of 10000 displaced families
from 2006-2010 were relocated 2–3 km proximity to their present location.
• Livelihood activities like urban farming and local laundries i.e. dhobi Ghats, etc. were
undertaken. (Mathur, 2012)
(Trivedi et al., 2016)
Criticisms

17. Success of the project
17
.
Fig 20: Original view of eastern bank of river Fig 21: view of eastern bank after project implementation
(SRFDCL, n.d.)
✓ Authenticity ✓ Public perception
✓ Theme and Image ✓ Environmental sustainability
✓ Financial feasibility ✓ Effective management
(Bismi, 2017)

18. Bismi, S. (2017). River/Water Front Development and Sabarmati Riverfront Development Case
Study. Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/2711798/river-front-development-75
Ganguly, S. (2015). The transformation of Sabarmati from a parched riverbed with puddles of
industrial effluents to a bustling, swanky riverfront. The Economic Times. Retrieved from
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/45998310.cms?utm_source=contentofint
erest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Kaur, R. (2014). Good and bad side of Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project. Retrieved
from https://www.mapsofindia.com/my-india/society/good-and-bad-side-of-sabarmati-
riverfront-development-project#
References

19. Mathur, N. (2012). On the Sabarmati riverfront: Urban planning as totalitarian governance in
Ahmedabad. Economic and political weekly, Vol 47, 64-75. Retrieved from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/297165294_On_the_Sabarmati_riverfront_Urba
n_planning_as_totalitarian_governance_in_Ahmedabad
Patrick. (2015). Why Ahmedabad. Retrieved from
http://www.knightconsulting.co.in/category/why-ahmedabad
SRFDCL. (n.d.). Sabarmati Riverfront. Retrieved from http://sabarmatiriverfront.com/master-plan
Trivedi, T., Parwani, A., Bhatia, J., Mittal, M., Kapoor, H., Makhija, I., Shah, K., Jethwani, P.,
Ahuja, R., Bafna, A., Dhandhukawala, A., Jain, A., & Udhani, D. (2016). A Study on
Socio-Economic Impact of Sabarmati Riverfront on Life of Displaced Communities.
Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR),Vol 02, 1578- 1602. Retrieved from:
http://www.onlinejournal.in
References

20. 20
Thank you