RIVER FRONT DEVELOPMENT

SABARMATI RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT

• Sabarmati Riverfront is a waterfront being
developed along the banks of Sabarmati river
in Ahmedabad, India.

• Proposed in 1960s, the construction began in

2005. Since 2012, the waterfront is gradually
opened to public as and when facilities are
constructed and various facilities are actively
under construction.

• The major objectives of project are Sabarmati river and under construction promenade

environment improvement, social

infrastructure and sustainable development.
 AHMEDABAD AND SABARMATI RIVER
• The city was founded in
1411 along the river banks.
• The river originates from
the foothills of Aravalli
ranges near Udaipur,
Rajasthan, and flows
downstream passing
through Ahmedabad till
Gulf of Cambay.
• The 109-km river runs
across a stretch of about
55 km through
Ahmedabad. It is this
stretch that is developed as
an ambitious urban
renewal project.
SABARMATI AND GROWTH OF AHMEDABAD
 NEED FOR RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT

The intensive uses took their toll on the river.

• Untreated sewage flowed into the river

through storm water outfalls and dumping of
industrial waste posed a major health and
environmental hazard. Original condition of the river near Vadaj

• The river bank settlements were disastrously

prone to floods and lacked basic
infrastructure facilities. Lacklustre
development took shape along the riverfront.
Such conditions made the river inaccessible and
it became a virtual divide between the two parts
Dry riverbed with slums along the riverbanks and
of the city.
lacklustre development along the riverfront
PROJECT OBJECTIVES

• The project aims to provide Ahmedabad with a meaningful waterfront environment along the
banks of the Sabarmati River and to redefine an identity of Ahmedabad around the river. The
project looks to reconnect the city with the river and positively transform the neglected aspects of
the riverfront.

• The objectives of this multidimensional project can be categorised under three topics-

• Environmental Improvement: reduction in erosion and flood to safeguard the city; sewage
diversion to clean the river; water retention and recharge.

• Social Infrastructure: rehabilitation and resettlement of riverbed dwellers and activities; creation
of parks and public spaces; provision of socio-cultural amenities for the city.

• Sustainable Development: generation of resources, revitalisation of neighbourhoods.

THE CHALLENGES

• 12000 hutments on both banks of the river

occupying nearly 20% of critical project area.

• Unorganized Gujari Bazaar of more than

1200 vendors on the eastern bank and Court
Litigation.

• Nearly 200 Dhobis using both the banks of

the river for washing activities.

• Thoroughly polluted and contaminated

Sabarmati through 40 storm water outlets.
 FEATURES
• The reduction of the riverbed from a variable width of 600-
300 m to a fix width of 275 m, thus reclaiming 185 ha of
land.

• The construction of RCC diaphragm walls (10-20 m depth)

and anchor slabs (10 m) to prevent the riverbanks from
erosion. After the finishing the anchor slab is turned in the
so-called lower promenade.

• The construction of interceptor sewers on both the riverbanks able to

prevent the waste water to flow directly into the river and diverting it
to the two sewage treatment plants of vasna and pirana.

• The construction of RCC retaining walls (2.5 - 9 m) to

protect the city from flooding. The height of the walls is
determined by the 100-year flood level. An upperpromenade
is created on top of the retaining walls.
• Riverbanks of the
Sabarmati before
the project

• Riverbanks of the
Sabarmati after
the project
LAND USE MAP
STREET NETWORK MAP
DEVELOPMENT SITES
AMENITIES SECTION
COMPLETED AND ONGOINGWORKS
RECREATION MAP
• The key feature of this project is a two-level, continuous promenade at the water’s edge along each bank
of the river. The lower level promenade is built just above the water level and an upper level
promenade.Together these provide Ahmedabad with an uninterrupted, pedestrian walkway, of 11.3km in
length, in the heart of the city.
LOWER-LEVEL PROMENADE
The lower-level promenade is built just above the water level to serve pedestrians and cyclists solely
and to provide access to the water.
The width of the promenade varies from 6-18m. Facilities
provided at the River Promenade include:

• Access points from the city level via staircases and

ramps at regular intervals.

• Lifts or elevators to make lower-level promenade

accessible for people with disabilities.

• Concrete paved fooring which can support walking,

jogging and cycling.

• Continuous seating arrangement at the river’s edge

along with protective railing.

• Platforms at regular intervals for regulated and

organized vending activities.
UPPER LEVEL PROMINADE

The upper level promenade shall host a variety of public features at the city level.
GHATS
31 NOS
Ghats punctuate the lower-level river promenade at planned intervals to provide access to the water.
These have been designed at strategic locations to enable continuation of cultural activities along the
water.
BOATING STATIONS

3 NOS
Boating Stations have been provided at the lower-level River Promenade to enable recreational boating
in the river as well as a water-based mode of public transport in the future. Three boating stations have
been completed so far. First station is located on the eastern bank near Subhash Bridge. The other two
stations are located downstream on the western bank, near Nehru Bridge and Sardar Bridge,
respectively.
RIVERFRONT PARK: SUBHASH BRIDGE

Area 6 ha
The park is envisaged as an extension of Gandhiji’s Sabarmati Ashram, across the river, providing a
serene and contemplative backdrop to the Ashram and maximising this vista. Simultaneously, it will
serve as a much needed park for Shahibaug-Dudheshwar neighbourhoods. The park has been designed
to meet the needs of a diverse range of people.
RIVERFRONT PARK: USMANPURA

Area 1.8 ha
The park is one of the many public gardens created along the riverfront in this project. It will serve as a neighbourhood
park and strengthen the green space network on the western part of the city.
The park has been open to the public following its formal inauguration on October 16, 2013 by Gujarat Chief Minister-
Shri Narendra Modi.
AMUSEMENT PARK

Area 0.9 ha
This park will be a hub of thematic areas with an informative and entertaining environment. The
facility will provide interactive exhibitions, holographic displays and animatronics to recreate pre-
historic living creatures, historic episodes and traditional architecture.
FLOWER GARDEN

Area 5 ha
This garden has been envisioned as a venue for Ahmedabad’s Annual Flower Show- an event for
exhibition and sale of native and exotic species of plants and flowers. Throughout the year, the garden
shall serve as a neighbourhood park.
URBAN FOREST: PALDI
Area 10.4 ha
The proposed forest, downstream of the river is envisioned as a significant green resource for the city.
The site extends from Paldi to Vasna Barrage with a coverage of more than 10hectares. Ambedkar
Bridge divides the site into two. The northern part of the site will act as neighbourhood park for the dense
residential areas in Paldi while the southern part will be a developed as a city-level urban forest, a
densely wooded area with a botanical garden. Building within the site will be minimal to maintain the
character of an urban forest.
PLAZA: VALLABHSADAN

Area 0.5 ha
The plaza, located on the River Promenade-West between Nehru Bridge and Gandhi Bridge, is
visualized as a pedestrian promenade lined by arcades which will provide a shaded environment.
Staircases and elevators for handicapped access connect the plaza at regular intervals to the lower-level
promenade and the river.
PLAZA: GANDHI ASHRAM
Owing to its significance as a national heritage site, Gandhi Ashram is the only property that opens up
directly onto the river. The series of wide steps that presently lead down from the Ashram, connect to
the lower level-River Promenade. This space is envisioned as a multi-functional public space. The
visualizations show the transformation of the space into an amphitheatre, where the existing steps
serve as seating.
RIVERFRONT PARK: KHANPUR

Area 1.4 ha
The linear park extends between Gandhi Bridge and Nehru Bridge on the eastern riverbank and is
planned with secure play areas for children, walking, jogging and other recreational facilities, and
areas for outdoor performances and concerts.
HERITAGE PLAZA
The linear plaza is located along the fort wall between Nehru Bridge and Ellis Bridge on the east. With
the historic backdrop of the fort wall, heritage structures and monuments such as Bhadra Fort,
Ahmedshah Mosque, Siddi Sayyed Mosque and Bhadrakali Temple in the vicinity, the plaza is
strategically located within the historic context. It has been envisioned as a pedestrian public space
with outdoor exhibits to represent the rich and diverse heritage of Ahmedabad, making it a central
tourist destination for the city.
PALDI SPORTS COMPLEX

Area 7.1 ha
The proposed complex near Paldi aims to provide city-level sports facilities on the western bank.
PIRANA SPORTS GROUND

Area 4.2 ha
The proposed ground at Pirana aims to provide a multi-functional maidan on the eastern bank for
informal sports and recreational uses.
SHAHPUR SPORTS CENTRE
Area 2.4 ha
The proposed centre at Shahpur will offer neighbourhood-level sports facilities on the eastern bank.
LAUNDRY CAMPUS
Area 0.9 ha
A laundry campus has been created to provide state-of-the-art facilities for the washing community that
traditionally used the river banks for laundering.
SUCCESS STORIES

• The Sabarmati Riverfront Project add almost 10,00,000 sq. mts. of parks,
promenades and plazas to Ahmedabad.
• The Sabarmati Riverfront Project help provide Ahmedabad with many new
cultural trade and social institutions (36,000 Sq.m).
• Creating of City Level Recreational Activities – Water Sports and Floating
restaurants.
• Tourist attraction.
• Recharge of Ground water Aquifers of the city
• Continuous Green coverage along the river corridor.
• Elimination of Flood Hazard.
• Creating Vibrant Urban neighborhoods and beautification of the city.
THANK YOU…..