Lessons from Ahmedabad for Pune – Part II

Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project

This is another project from Ahmedabad worth mentioning. Until some years back, the Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad was plagued by problems similar to other rivers passing through cities in India today. Untreated sewage disposal, squatter settlements, and flooding during the monsoons were some of them. In 1997 Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation formed the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Ltd. for the purpose of ‘reviving the city by reconnecting it to the river’.  Environmental Planning Collaborative, an Ahmedabad based non-profit headed by Ar. Bimal Patel prepared feasibility studies and proposed a design. Despite unending controversies, the plan can be seen coming to fruition today. The leaders and decision makers of the time are largely to praise for the successful implementation without compromising for quality. 

People throng the riverfront during Kite Festival - Jan 2012

Large retaining walls have been added for means of flood control for an 11.5 km stretch along both sides of the river. More than 200 hectares of land has been reclaimed which will be used for creating parks, public plazas, promenades and commercial + residential space. 

Promenades have been created for the public along the entire stretch and water has been diverted from the Narmada canal north of the city and has been retained by constructing a barrage downstream at Vasna. 


The project is entirely self-financed with sale of 14.5% of land for commercial and residential establishments. Various plans are underway to weave the riverfront with the city by connecting popular landmarks near the river with pedestrian plazas. Many iconic structures such as the Corbusier’s Textile Mill-owners Association, Patang hotel, Tagore Hall, NID etc. face the waterfront and have been incorporated in the design. In addition, large part of the reclaimed land will be used for new cultural and civic institutions such as museums, exhibition and performance venues, monuments etc (Source: 'Indian cities: Managing Urban Growth', pg. 95, A report by Metropolis Association).

Artists rendering of the promenade

Large parks along the riverfront

Pune can take some lessons from this project. Firstly, that the SRFD project is going as planned and is being managed well. I know that’s quite basic but our city always stumbles when it comes tor successful project implementation.

Mula and Mutha rivers - Pune

Next, Pune can invest in its own riverfront development. The map on the left shows how the two rivers, Mula and Mutha meander through the city. In fact, before the confluence, they pass through some of the important and densely inhabited areas. At the confluence there is an 33 acre thickly forested island! The rivers do not divide the city in east and west (like in Ahmedabad), but connect it together. This connection can be exploited with help of a small dam (such as the bund which the British had built), and a ferry service could be launched.

Open land along the river

Open land and road as seen from the Omkareshwar bridge.

For me, the most important outcome would be a recreational riverfront promenade/park. We all know that Pune is in desperate need of quality open spaces.  Parks such as Sambhaji Park and Saras Baug are there but are too small for today’s population. There are hardly any sizeable parks in the city. Peoples’ need for public open space cannot be underestimated. Puneites crowd the bridges during the evenings for some open air. Sometime just look down from any of these bridges. You will see a large swathe of empty land along the riverbank. Thanks to river, it’s green even in peak summer. To begin with, if this space is moderately developed on an experimental basis, it can become a fabulous public space and provide respite from the city above. Since flooding is a threat, it can be closed during the monsoons. Progressively, a flood control plan can be created to divert the monsoon water elsewhere. Bringing people to the river will rekindle another cause. River pollution! As of now, PMC has created a road here rather than a public promenade.

For detailed information, plans and photographs of Sabarmati Riverfront Development, please visit:
HCPDPM website at http://www.hcp.co.in/project-details/61/73/135/sabarmati-riverfront-development-project and
http://www.sabarmatiriverfront.com/
http://www.metropolis.org/publications/indian-cities-managing-urba, pg. 95

Photo Sources: 
Ahmedabad Photos: http://epaper.timesofindia.com
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1107117&page=2, 
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1107117&page=11


Pune Photos - Pushkaraj Paradkar