The Indian Express                        18.03.2013

10 best spots in AMC list to boost tourism

Under an ambitious tourism programme for the city, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is developing 10 tourist places including some of the most visited ones like Gandhi Ashram, Law Garden, Sidi Sayyad Mosque, Sarkhej Roza, Jhulta Minara among others. Apart from providing supporting facilities including parking, stress will be on offering public utility services along with beautification of these sites.

The project is undertaken by the AMC in collaboration with the state tourism corporation (Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited). These 10 sites are divided in two phases with five in each, conceptual work on first five sites including Law Garden, Sidi Sayyad Mosque, Sarkhej Roza, Jhulta Minara and Hutheesing Jain temple is nearing completion.

"With designs and technical specifications of these almost complete, the same will be opened for tendering this month. This will be followed by development work on sites. The plan is to involve beautification, signages, landscaping, traditional light poles and public utility development which is entirely lacking at these sites added with food stalls, souvenir shops and other facilities," said municipal commissioner Guruprasad Mohapatra.

Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the design work is done by a team of architects and designers at the Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT) University under the leadership of Prof. Utpal Sharma. It is said the plan was floated after it was realised that despite having numerous tourist sites in Ahmedabad, one can hardly visit these in the absence of supporting facilities around these sites.

"The aim was to develop these places as major heritage and recreation destinations while creating connections with its visitors. Also, to integrate with the ongoing projects like BRTS was another challenge. Attempts were also made to address issues like parking, open spaces, traffic and pedestrian movement and seating space,' revealed Trupti Patel, one of the architects at CEPT working on the project.

With an estimated total cost of Rs 50 crore, the work on remaining five sites will take off later this year. Other five tourist attractions to be covered in second phase includes Gandhi Ashram, Calico museum, Kochrab Ashram, Kankaria Lake and Smarak Bhavan with each place having its own rich heritage and significance. Thus, not much changes will be made to the original structures, in order to support the sites, the surrounding areas will be developed.

For instance, at present, the Sidi Sayyed Mosque which has the famous stone lattice work on its semi-circular windows, hardly has accessibility for the visitors due to its locations that is in the centre of the city at Lal Darwaja. With all kinds of traffic movement at all sides, the mosque has become a traffic island.

As per the development plans, the road on the back side of the mosque will be closed and the existing Sardar Baugh, the garden beyond the road will be extended to the mosque. To add to its heritage, the garden will be designed in Mughal 'char bagh' format within the premises.

"Also, as per the plans, a tourist amenity centre, viewing terrace towards the jali, an underground connection to the Sardar Baugh including redevelopment of Sardar Baugh are on the cards. Thus, not only it will provide a view for the visitors but also make it accessible to them," added Trupti.

The proposed sites

Phase I

1.  Law Garden

2. Sidi Sayyad Mosque

3. Sarkhej Roza

4. Jhulta Minara

5. Hutheesing Jain temple

Phase II

6. Gandhi Ashram

7. Calico museum

8. Kochrab Ashram

9. Kankaria Lake

10. Smarak Bhavan