Administrating Ahmedabad: A Simulation of two polarized governance systems

Kavan Pathak
PG180406
CEPT University

Introduction

Over the last two decades, India has seen rapid urban transformation. This transformation is two fold,
with rural areas showing trends of urbanizing and thus resulting in formation of new towns and cities.
Whereas on the other hand established cities such as Mumbai, Delhi & Bangalore have attracted rural
population and at the same time absorbed rural areas as their municipal boundaries grew.
Ahmedabad has seen such transformation, due to the result establishing itself as a business hub and
an economic powerhouse in western India. Due to these developments the city is susceptible to
various weak links as well as opportunities for growth.

Determining Opportunities & Threats

Strengths

Ahmedabad has a history of over 600 years and is globally known for its pols1 and architecture.
From buildings like Jama Masjid and old city to modern marvels such as IIM & ATMA house,
Ahmedabad’s heritage is rich and diverse.

Ease of doing business2 in the state attracts a lot of potential industrialists and investors to invest in
Gujarat’s largest city, Ahmedabad. Modern economic policies and frameworks, incentivize
stakeholders to invest in the city. Good connectivity with other major cities of the West3 & efficient
road network. Ahmedabad is well connected to Vadodara & Surat by road and Mumbai by rail. Recent
infrastructure undertakings will further boost its connectivity to major cities in India.

In recent times, established companies have opened regional offices or set up industries in nearby
areas of Ahmedabad, proximity to proposed DMIC corridor, ease of doing business, lower land prices,
ready infrastructure, lower urban congestion etc are some key criteria which make Ahmedabad a
lucrative alternative to Mumbai for MNCs in order to set up shop. Planned services and active Urban
authority4 have ensured planned growth of Ahmedabad. Planned Urban development framework,
equitable land pooling schemes5, and other development policies have ensured accountable &
planned growth of city which has helped provide better level of services in Western Ahmedabad.

Weaknesses

The geographical location of Ahmedabad makes it one of the most harshest climates to live in India. In
summers temperature rise to above 45 degrees. Summers last for almost 6 months in a year. The
winters are short but intense. Such harsh climate proves to be taxing for the citizens. These harsh
climate is amplified due to lack of hilly areas or large water bodies that can diminish the ambient
temperature. Absence of such natural features also translate to lesser options for recreation.

Furthermore, lack of open & green spaces for a city of scale of Ahmedabad creates urban heat islands
and also damages the quality of life due to constrained availibilty to open spaces. Nominal
recreational & civic amenities add to the hampered lifestyle of the citizens. Global connectivity is
limited compared to cities like Bangalore, Mumbai or Delhi, inspite of change in political leadership
that has put Ahmedabad on a global map.

1
UNESCO recognized Walled city of Ahmedabad as India’s first World Heritage city
2
DIPP (World Bank organization) ranks Gujarat at 5TH position for ease of doing business report in 2018
3
Vadodara: 1.5 Hours; Surat: 5 Hours, road network of 2600 kms
4
https://ahmedabadcity.gov.in/portal/jsp/Static_pages/amc_awards.jsp, Nagar ratna award 2011
5
https://townplanning.gujarat.gov.in/Documents/FinalLandPoolingMechanism.pdf, page 4
Opportunities

Infrastructure developments add value to the city. Developments in form of DMIC6 and High speed
rail connectivity with Mumbai are some of the projects that may attract investors and stakeholders to
invest in the region which will give city oppurtunity to grow and develop. Growth and urbanization of
Satellite towns like Bareja, Sanand etc can be seen as an oppurtunity to develop them as industrial
hubs. GIFT city and Dholera SIR can be seen as advantageous special zones in close proximity to the
city that will help the city expand and act as a parent city to these zones.

Ahmedabad is at the verge of becoming a mega city and thus can be seen as a oppurtunity to mould
its growth to achieve equitable development. Acute shortage of housing7 can be seen as incentive to
develop new areas and land parcels where land cost is low. Distinct oppurtunity to recognize
Ahmedabad as a global city through initiatives such as Vibrant Gujarat Summit, etc these conclaves
should be also be made globally influential.

Threats

History of communal riots and violence8. Ahmedabad has been a city throughout history where two
major Indian religions have co-existed although not always peacefully. The people of both
communities have been used as pawns for political and financial gains throughout its history. In
recent times such issues have subsided but a constant tension is ever present owing to its history.

As Ahmedabad is still at the verge of becoming a mega city, the pay scales dwarf9 as compared to
Delhi & Mumbai. Thus Ahmedabad looses out to them in attracting talented individuals as potential
employees. Lack of open spaces and recreational options are a threat to city’s quality of life index.
Increase in number of slums dwellers due to lack of affordable housing options and poor wages or
lack of employment.

Constant abuse of natural resources and constant neglect of environmental problems may prove to
be reasons for various climatic threats that loom over the city.

Failure of metro project if last mile connectivity is not focused upon. Success of BRTS and the way
Ahmedabadis have adapted to it is contradicting to the fact that Metro may fail in the city, inspite of
that fact the project may fail if last mile connectivity is not enhanced.

Governance Systems & alternative development strategies

In order to limit the threats and to take advantage of the aforementioned opportunities an
administrative force is required which can be either democratic or totalitarian. There are certain
advantages and disadvantages to both forms of governance systems, which can only be better
understood by attempting to simulate these issues through the lenses of both the governance
systems.

6
9th Annual Report of DMIC pg 20-22
7
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/wealth/real-estate/housing-demand-across-top-8-cities-during-2016-20
20-estimated-at-4-2-million-units-report/articleshow/55894124.cms, Table 1
8
http://www.gujaratriots.com/index.php/
9
https://www.payscale.com/research/IN/Location=Ahmedabad-Gujarat/Salary, Ahmedabad Average salary
https://www.payscale.com/research/IN/Location=Mumbai-(Bombay)-Maharashtra/Salary Mumbai average
Salary
Totalitarian regime - Monarchy

In Monarchy or totalitarian regime, things would be done as a dictatorship and word of the Monarch
is considered to be final, these helps in dealing with certain sensitive issues like division of land
parcels, proper planning without hindrance, etc.
Various rulers over time have identified Ahmedabad’s potential as a cultural and commercial hub in
the west, to emphasize growth, trading relations with neighbouring states can be better established
through diplomacy and peace treaties.

Better educational institutes catering to IT and computer science will be developed under the King’s
rule as a vision to bridge the gap between Ahmedabad’s commerce and its lacklustre IT infrastructure.
This will create high paying jobs in the city and attract more educated class here.

Large portion of funds to be directed towards revamping & restarting of various mills in the city to
regain its identity of Manchester of East and thus providing employment to the poor as well. These
steps will ensure Ahmedabad becomes a manifold economy with Base economy in IT, Commerce,
Textile & Pharmaceutical sectors, making it more or less prone to global financial instability.

Strong cultural & heritage is at the heart of the city, as a ruler utmost care would be taken of the royal
palace and the fort adding value to its heritage. Cultural and art will be made compulsory to practice
throughout the city to ensure better citizens and an improvement in quality of life.

One of the major draw backs of Ahmedabad is its climate and lack of open spaces, the architecture of
pols negated drawbacks of this climate by building close to each other. Thus similar architecture will
have to be practiced throughout the city, with only entrances of pols having vehicular access.
Community living shall be allowed but care shall be taken that no single community dominates a pol,
a balance shall be maintained so as to minimize the threat of communal tension by forcing them to
live together, as equals. Neighbourhood level, local level and city wide level open spaces to be
incorporated in the city even if existing people have to be relocated.

Policies of minimum wage and a cap on land prices to be enforced to ensure affordable housing for
all.

Construction of civic amenities such as hospitals, libraries, theaters, recreational clubs, religious
buildings shall be carried out to have educated, cultured and happy subjects throughout the city.

In retrospection, Monarch is not elected by the citizens, but a good monarch always understands the
importance of a happy kingdom and does every possible thing to ensure his city develops and is
content.

Democratic government - Mayor

On the other hand there is the mayor who is a representative of the people. In order to remain in
power he has to ensure that he is elected again. So a good Mayor ensures he does everything in his
power to see to it that the citizens are happy and content with the progress that he has achieved.

As a mayor, policy decisions are out of his prerogative. Thus he has to focus on physical development
of the city.

Infrastructure of satellite cities like Bareja & Sanand to be developed along with the city itself to
attract more industries in the periphery and their corporate houses in the city itself.

Multi modal intra city transport network including rail (linking city to satellite urban areas), metro &
BRTS to be developed. Multi modal transport hub that integrates Domestic & International travel as
well as High speed rail network to be proposed to further global connectivity of Ahmedabad.
Development of Affordable housing along with real estate developers in PPP model. This strategy can
help growing number of homeless in the city.

Special economic zones of Dholera & GIFT can be given global exposure through partnership with
state government and more investment can be attracted which can help build world class
infrastructure here, in order to attract more trade & commerce to the region.
Maintenance of civic amenities to be revamped, some of them to be renovated so as to ensure a
certain level contentment in the public life. Various green spaces & public open spaces to be
developed to negate the threat of Urban heat island in an already harsh climate.

To attract more tourists and make Ahmedabad a global destination recent status of world heritage
city to be capitalized upon and world class hospitality infrastructure to be developed along with
special attention to renovate the heritage structures and conserve them.

In the matters of communal tension, overpricing & low wages there are negligible avenues that a
mayor can turn to in order to resolve these questions.

Thus in hindsight a mayor who is a people’s representative has limited power and does what all
development he can during his tenure to ensure he is re elected.

Conclusion

In conclusion, one fundamental presumption is made that both the Monarch & Mayor are good at
heart and want development of their city. And will strife to remain in power only by virtue of
development achieved.

Merits of Monarchy

A Monarch is relatively free of any tenure to remain in power and thus he can plan for long term
goals.
He can take harsh decisions which are detrimental to a handful but beneficial to the masses.
He is entitled to policy decisions that he can make to address certain issues that can not be solved by
physical development alone.
More holistic approach towards governance as everything in the city has to abide to one decision.
Relatively more fund at stake as whatever is taxed from the citizens goes back to that very city.

Merits of Democracy

More connection with neighbouring areas to foster development of the whole region.
Religion is not at centre stage (relatively) thus caste, religion etc do not matter that much, all are
equal under the law
Oppurtunity to achieve equitable development as everyone, irrespective of class, caste, race, religion
has equal power, that is the power to vote.

Demerits of the two governance systems

A Monarch is susceptible to the elite in the city as they are the ones that provide him with majority of
the funds. A lot depends on the monarch himself, as no one is there to keep him in check, if he is
favourable to one religion or ideology, the city can never achieve equitable growth.
A Mayor is a peoples’ representative and is only elected to power for a limited tenure, so his long
term goals are always at risk. He is devoid of any major policy decisions resulting in fractional growth.
Other drawbacks include Lack of funds and political pressure.

Thus no governance system is perfect, but the more important thing is the person’s vision and
ideology who is elected as a mayor or a Monarch to achieve holistic & equitable growth in a city,
other drawbacks may be overcome through tweaks in governance infrastructure.
List of Sources that Justify Statements made in the SWOT analysis, (these are not citations)

1. UNESCO recognized Walled city of Ahmedabad as India’s first World Heritage city
2. DIPP (World Bank organization) ranks Gujarat at 5TH position for ease of ding business report in 2018
3. Vadodara: 1.5 Hours; Surat: 5 Hours, road network of 2600 kms
4. https://ahmedabadcity.gov.in/portal/jsp/Static_pages/amc_awards.jsp, Nagar ratna award 2011
5. https://townplanning.gujarat.gov.in/Documents/FinalLandPoolingMechanism.pdf, page 4
6. 9th Annual Report of DMIC pg 20-22
7.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/wealth/real-estate/housing-demand-across-top-8-cities-during-2016-202
0-estimated-at-4-2-million-units-report/articleshow/55894124.cms, Table 1
8. http://www.gujaratriots.com/index.php/
9. https://www.payscale.com/research/IN/Location=Ahmedabad-Gujarat/Salary, Ahmedabad Average salary
https://www.payscale.com/research/IN/Location=Mumbai-(Bombay)-Maharashtra/Salary Mumbai average
Salary