Sabarmati Riverfront

sabarmati_riverfront
Project box

Geographical area: Asia and the Pacific

Location: Ahmedabad, India

City size: XL (above 5,000,000 inhabitants)

Promoter: Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation

Developer: Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation

Start year:

End-year: In progress

Implementation phase: Implementation in progress

Project size: City

Total area of intervention (in sqm): 2.000.000

Total investments (in USD): 184 million

Project overview

The Sabarmati Riverfront regeneration project in Ahmedabad, India, is a landmark urban development initiative that sought to revitalize a key area of the city along the Sabarmati River. Spanning 200 hectares of reclaimed land, the project is centrally located, cutting the city into its eastern and western halves. The Sabarmati River has experienced an important environmental degradation caused by the industrial waste and sewage from the textile industry developed in the city. As the environmental health along the river continued to degrade, the palaces, gardens and religious structures built along the riverbank started to be left abandoned, leaving the space to several informal settlements of the nearby mills’ workers and farmers. These informal settlements reduced the direct access to the river and severely affected the flood management of the river. The major goal of the regeneration project is to reopen the river to all citizens and reduce the risk of flooding along riverbanks. The redevelopment of the Sabarmati Riverfront has been promoted by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, aiming to overcome the issues connected with the river. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation established the special purpose vehicle Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Limited in 1997, which would have undertaken the entire redevelopment of the Sabarmati Riverfront. The planning phase of the project started with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation entrusting the non-profit organization Environmental Planning Collaborative to develop a proposal and conduct the preliminary feasibility study on the project area. After being appointed as development manager of the project in 1999, the no-profit Environmental Planning Collaborative started to conduct several studies concerning soil testing, land reclamation, financial feasibility, infrastructure implementation and construction technologies. After these studies were concluded, the project was officially launched in 2003. The implementation phase took place later in 2004, with the construction of the pilot project of the first retaining walls to test the feasibility of the construction technology adopted. After the pilot project was completed, the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Limited conducted several rounds of proposals to appoint different contractors, and the official construction works started in 2007. Later in 2008, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation developed a plan for the relocation of the informal settlements by collaborating with the NGO Vikas Center for Development, which would have relocated informal residents to municipal-owned housing and land far from the Sabarmati river. Initially, the riverfront project reclaimed around 2,000,000 sqm from the Sabarmati River, with 20% percent of the total reclaimed area sold through public auctions to finance the entire cost of the regeneration project. The remaining reclaimed land has been used to create new streets, parks, and other public amenities. The project created new promenades near the water and street level and constructed several fairgrounds to host different events and annual festivals. In addition, new underground interceptor sewer lines were constructed to divert sewage from the river. In addition, the project will see the construction of a new conference facility and a large Ferris wheel. Concurrently with the street and promenade construction, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation started to relocate the informal residents to the municipal-owned housing units and land detailed in the relocation plan, with the support of different NGOs to help residents in establishing in their new surroundings. The  public special purpose vehicle Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Limited was appointed to manage the entire project, from the planning and design proposal to the implementation and construction phase. In order to cover the project costs, the public company received loans from both the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and the national infrastructure funding agency Housing and Urban Development Corporation. By 2011, significant portions of the project, such as the lower promenade and public parks, were opened to the public. The project continued to evolve with ongoing construction and the development of additional amenities. The vision of the Sabarmati Riverfront regeneration project was to create a vibrant, accessible, and sustainable urban space that would enhance the quality of life in Ahmedabad. The regeneration of the riverfront had significant economic impacts, mainly on reducing the economic damages brought by flooding and reducing public resource expenses to mitigate these risks. In addition, the redevelopment also spurred increased property values in the surrounding areas, attracting private investments and encouraging the construction of commercial, residential, and mixed-use buildings. The renovation has now reopened the riverfront to all citizens, which are now able to enjoy parks, open spaces and recreational activities held on the new promenades. From an environmental side, the regeneration of the riverfront had significantly reduced the flooding risk, stabilized the river edges and prevented soil erosion. In addition, the new sewage system brought a major effect on reducing water pollution.

Following the Sabarmati Riverfront regeneration project, the reclaimed land was transformed into a variety of land uses that catered to both public and private needs. Approximately 85% of the riverfront development has been completed, including the construction of public parks, promenades, and cultural amenities. The 20% of the reclaimed land owned by the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Limited will host both commercial and residential development, which was intended to generate revenue to finance the entire project. The remaining land was used to create continuous public promenades along the riverbanks, enhancing public access and connectivity. Additionally, the project included the development of two large public parks, open markets, and recreational spaces, contributing to the revitalization of adjacent neighborhoods and improving the overall urban environment. In addition, the project envisioned the construction of a new conference facility to host events and festivals.

Benefits

The major economic impact brought by the redevelopment project is the avoidance of economic-related damages caused by flooding. The renovation of the riverbanks and the installation of retaining walls will significantly reduce the damages caused by flooding, therefore reducing the expenses for the public budget. As 20% of the reclaimed land will be allocated to host new commercial and residential development, the new residents of the area will benefit from new job opportunities. The development also spurred increased property values in the surrounding areas, attracting private investments and encouraging the construction of commercial, residential, and mixed-use buildings. This ripple effect boosted local businesses and contributed to the overall economic growth of the city. Furthermore, the project created numerous jobs during the construction phase and in the ongoing management and maintenance of the riverfront, contributing to economic stability and growth in the region and for local communities.

The regeneration initiative made substantial efforts in addressing the long-standing issues of pollution, flooding, and ecological degradation along the Sabarmati River. Before the regeneration project, the river was heavily polluted with untreated sewage and industrial waste, leading to severe water quality issues and health hazards for the nearby communities. The newly developed interceptor sewer lines along both banks of the river significantly reduce sewage and improved the overall water quality. Additionally, the construction of retaining walls and diaphragm walls along the riverbanks helped to stabilize the river’s edges and prevent soil erosion, reducing the risk of flooding in adjacent neighborhoods. The project also focused on the ecological restoration of the riverfront by creating green spaces, parks, and gardens, which not only enhanced the aesthetic appeal of the area but also contributed to the city's biodiversity and environmental sustainability. These green spaces played a critical role in mitigating the urban heat island effect, improving air quality, and providing habitats for local flora and fauna, thereby fostering a more resilient urban ecosystem.

The Sabarmati Riverfront project had a transformative effect on the quality of life for the residents of Ahmedabad, particularly for those living in informal settlements along the river. The project included the relocation and rehabilitation of over 8,000 households, many of whom lived in precarious conditions along the riverbanks. These informal residents were relocated on municipal-owned land and public housing far from the Riverfront, and the relocation process was supported by several NGOs to help them establish themselves in their new surroundings. However, the relocation process faced challenges and criticism regarding the adequacy of the new housing and the distance of resettlement sites from the original settlements, despite aiming to provide these families with better living conditions. The creation of new public spaces, such as parks, promenades, and cultural amenities, significantly enhanced social cohesion among residents of surrounding areas and provided much-needed recreational areas for the city's residents. These public spaces became important venues for community gatherings, cultural events, and leisure activities, fostering a sense of pride and ownership among the citizens. Additionally, the project improved access to the river, which had previously been inaccessible due to encroachments and pollution, thereby reconnecting the people of Ahmedabad with their natural heritage.

The project did not receive any certificate.

Finance model

The Sabarmati Riverfront regeneration project was financed through a combination of loans, municipal funds, and revenue generated from the sale of reclaimed land. . From the public side, the Housing and Urban Development Corporation and the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation provided USD 69 million and USD 74 million in loans to the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Limited, respectively. From the private side, the project has been financed with funding from private developers to buy part of the reclaimed land. The revenues gathered from the selling of 20% of the reclaimed land were employed to finance the redevelopment activities.

The Housing and Urban Development Corporation provided a substantial loan of around USD 69 million to the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Limited for the project's development. In addition, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation contributed with around USD 74 million in loans to support the project. The ownership of the part (20%) of the land reclaimed from the river has been transferred to the public company Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Limited, which sold the land to cover the construction and implementation costs of the project. The selling of the reclaimed land generated around USD 76 million. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation retained the ownership of the remaining 80% of the project site, conceding the development rights to the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Limited. As the riverfront infrastructures and construction works needed to be conducted on surrounding private land parcels in some cases, parts of these land parcels were expropriated by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation in order to ensure the correct implementation of the project. To compensate for the expropriation, the affected landowners were offered either development rights of the lost land area that could have been used on the remaining parcel, or cash compensation. In addition, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation adopted the relevant change to the urban plan, in order to convert the land use in the area and allow for the construction of the new infrastructures.

References and Credits

Amirtahmasebi, R., Orloff, M., Wahba, S., & Altman, A. (2016). Regenerating Urban Land: A Practitioner’s Guide to Leveraging Private Investment, World Bank Group, Washington DC. Available here.

Sabarmati Riverfront Project official website. Accessed on 29/08/2024. Available here.

HCP. Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project. Accessed on 29/08/2024. Available here.

Image from Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Limited, retrieved here.