Ahmedabad civic body to relocate Vivekananda statue

The standing committee of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on Thursday discussed some important issues and developments in the city.

One of the major decisions taken by the members of the committee was relocation of Swami Vivekananda statue of Ellisbridge area.

Addressing the media, chairman of standing committee Bhupendra Patel said, "We have decided to relocate the statue so that the proposed elevated corridor faces no obstructions. At present, the statue is located in the middle of the road which will create an obstruction for the elevated corridor."

The corridor ends at the same place where the statue is presently located, he added. The statue, presently located at the end of Vivekananda bridge (Ellisbridge), will soon be placed in front of Town Hall near the fountain at a cost of Rs6.9 lakh.

The committee also discussed tenders invited for increasing security at all offices of AMC. Out of the 16 security agencies which had applied, only four qualify according to AMC's mentioned standards. Though the matter was carried forward, Congress has opposed it. Leader of opposition Badruddin Shaikh claimed,

"Despite not being up to AMC's prescribed standards, the four agencies have been selected. This is pure favouritism."

Shaikh further said that the work of managing security at all corporation offices should instead be given to Gujarat Industrial Security Force which is run by the state government.

"Instead of appointing some other agency, AMC can appoint state government's agency and save crores of rupees," added Shaikh.