Sabarmati riverfront: Is it for people or the builders?

Last week, I wrote of the core needs of cities as places for people and not cars. I continue the chain of thoughts this week, sparked by a letter that architect Kirtee Shah wrote to the chief minister two years back. A letter that came back to my notice recently.

Very few cities have the possibility of being planned. Chandigarh is one. The somewhat dubious Lavasa is another. Most grow around an existing one and then several core villages, higgledy-piggeldy, unplanned and using space badly – without open areas, crowded and undeniably chaotic. Especially in countries like India where population growth outstrips everything.

Even fewer cities have the possibility of a large tract of land becoming available suddenly in the centre of its geographical spread. The Sabarmati riverfront project, that has captured land on both sides of the once broad and expansive riverbank, has done just that.

What is done with it, or what can be done with it, will reflect the core values of the decision makers that whether this land will be used to enhance life of the common person, or to fulfil the greed of builders to create high-end malls and apartments for the rich. 

As of the writing of this article, decision makers have opted for the latter by using what could have been a huge green lung to plan roads for more cars and by giving reclaimed land to big builders.

Here is what Kirtee Shah writes.
“It is suggested that two decisions on the project (Sabarmati riverfront) be reconsidered. One, two big roads on both sides of the river and second, raising money for the project from sale of land reclaimed from the river for commercial development. The roads are not needed at this juncture. There are other ways to raise the required funds for project financing.”

“The two, four-laned traffic-carrying roads on both sides of the riverbank, constructed using mostly reclaimed land, are not needed at this stage of city’s development. Even if the proposal is not shelved, it is worth considering and certainly possible to defer road-building till the city grows and traffic problems make it absolutely necessary.”

“It appears that there is no need to use one-fourth of the reclaimed land for constructing expensive traffic-carrying, noise-making and polluting roads at a place that has the potential to become quiet, unpolluted and serene.”  

Shah believes that CG Road and SG Road have taken the pressure off Ashram Road. The eastern side doesn’t need a thorough road, anyway. Why build something that is unnecessary? Instead, think of a forest there! A real urban forest – with bicycle lanes, lush playgrounds, swings and picnic spots accessible to the poorest citizen.

And if at later stage roads are necessary, they can be made by merely removing the trees rather than knocking down buildings and moving habitats.

Ahmedabad desperately needs green cover. In one stroke, we can become one of the leading green cities, where everyone – rich and poor – will have access to green and shade, without having to belong to fancy and expensive clubs.

About the decision to sell 20% of riverfront land with extra FSI to finance the project, Shah asks, “Why give the rich sole access to the river which is meant for five million citizens, when there are other plots of land with special FSI that can be sold?”

There will be three major advantages, enumerates Shah in his letter. First and the most important, it will keep the strategically located riverfront for public purposes in public hands. There can be open spaces, galleries, museums, playgrounds, stadiums and the Gujari bazaar for the public, rather than just a privileged few.

Secondly, it will allow attractive neighbourhoods with high FSI in newly developed areas. Further, it will bring into the market public lands that have long remained locked up, thereby lowering prices to real values.

There is still time to change these decisions for good of the city. This is possible if all of us lobby and make our voices heard. Should we not?

Mallika Sarabhai is a noted danseuse and social activist and can be reached at  mallika@darpana.com