Urban News

The civic body has now come up with a proposal to levy similar fee at the newly built Naroda lake. The only difference being that it has outsourced the job to the private builder that has completed the project.

The Standing Committee of the AMC in its meeting on Thursday approved the modified entry fee rate structure proposed by Kariya Builders Pvt Ltd amid stiff opposition from Congress members over the move to charge not only entry fee but also fees on various facilities inside the premises like rides and train. The levy has been approved for one year from the date of launch following a 10-day test run which will be for free.

According to the agreement between the builder firm and the AMC, the latter will get 87 per cent of the earnings while the former will be entitled to get 13 per cent over and above other considerations. These include four plots to be given to the builder toward recovery of the setting up expense of Rs 16 crore. Of the four plots that Kariya will get, two are in Odhav and others in Naroda ward.

The builder had proposed to levy entry fee of Rs 5 for children (5-12 yrs) and Rs 10 for adults. Besides, it proposed to charge Rs 10 for rides, Rs 15 for gaming, Rs 20 each for giant ride and family train. Also, it has proposed to charge Rs 5 as parking fee for two-wheelers and Rs 10 for four-wheelers. But committee cut the entry fee to Re 1 for children upto 12 years and Rs 5 for adults. The rides charge is down to Rs 5, and gaming ticket, giant ride and family train to Rs 10. The parking charge for two-wheelers is down to Rs 2 and for four-wheelers is Rs 5 for a minimum of five hours.

The Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA), which took several new initiatives in the last three months that included incorporating Bopal township within its limits, has now taken a decision to approve building plans within 30 days. The move is considered to be significant for real estate developers because the agency earlier took at least 90 days to clear building plans.

Officials say the new directives will check the unnecessary harassment of developers by keeping their plans pending on one pretext or the other. The long time allowed for approval of building plans, say sources, was many times allegedly used to arm twist the builders for ulterior

motives.

AUDA chairman Dharmendra Shah said the decision was taken after consultation with planners and experts involved in urban development activities.

The decision has been welcomed by officials of the Gujarat Institute of Housing and Estate Developers(GIHED), the biggest body of real estate developers and builders.

GIHED president Suresh Patel said: “It will reduce harassment... fix the responsibility on individual officers for any delay beyond the stipulated period.”

He said that officials, after the new fiat, would have to explain as to why they did not clear the building plans if there was no objection. He said the officials previously did not raise all the queries or objections at one time so that the developers could answer them or fulfil the requirements immediately. The different queries, he said, were raised one after the other in a gap of some days or weeks that actually led to the delay in filing replies from builders side and hence, caused delay in granting building permission. 

“But the new directive to complete the process and grant permission within 30 days will quicken everything and it will be in the interest of AUDA, builders as well as property buyers,” said Patel.

GIHED vice-president Yogesh Bhavsar said the development would boost the construction activities. Previously, builders’ money remained locked in for a long time with no return, but the builders could now start their construction work at the earliest and sell it to the buyers to recover their investments faster.

Architect Pravin Patel welcomed the decision saying “it is a very positive development”.