GIFT to have Riverfront, Central Park, entertainment zone; Metro next year

Gandhinagar: Work on social infrastructure, including a riverfront, metro and entertainment zone, here in the GIFT city is progressing rapidly, as highlighted by GIFT City’s Managing Director, Tapan Ray. Ray also mentioned that, for the purpose of connectivity, the Metro is most likely to be operational by next year.

Tapan Ray, speaking at an event celebrating the collaboration between India and Australia in the education sector at GIFT City, stated, “We possess top-notch physical infrastructure. However, regarding the necessary commercial, residential, and social infrastructure to transform it into a thriving financial services hub, we have taken numerous steps to ensure their rapid implementation.”

He went on to explain, “On the social aspect, process of establishing a riverfront is currently undergoing. As the western bank of GIFT City is adjacent to the Sabarmati River, we will create a riverfront that will eventually connect to Ahmedabad, featuring riverfronts on both sides of the Sabarmati River.”

Regarding this project, he noted that a request for proposal (RFP) has been issued, and they are currently evaluating tenders.

In terms of entertainment, an area that GIFT City lacks, Ray stated, “We are also planning to develop a world-class entertainment zone. An Expression of Interest (EOI) has been initiated, and within a short period, possibly three years, we intend to have it operational. These are essential infrastructure requirements for a vibrant city, and we aim to create them as swiftly as possible.”

He further explained, “Additionally, a central park is being set up near the club, which will take less time to complete. In terms of connectivity, a metro system is scheduled to be operational next year. We are also testing a personal mobility system in GIFT City. The master plan for GIFT City has been expanded to add approximately 10 square kilometers, making it a total area of 14 square kilometers. With all this infrastructure in place, it will become a vibrant city with sustainable amenities, and most of the buildings are eco-friendly. We are also striving for a net-zero carbon footprint in the future.”

On the commercial side, Ray mentioned that out of the planned 44 million square feet, 22 million square feet of space has already been allocated for commercial, residential, and social infrastructure. “17 buildings are currently operational, 30 more are in the process of being constructed, and an additional 17 are in the early planning phases. As a result, over the next five to seven years, GIFT City is set to have a total of 64 high-rise buildings, creating an atmosphere akin to that of a prominent international financial hub,” he shared.

“In the residential sector, we have already assigned 5,000 residential units to promote a ‘walk-to-work’ culture. This will enable university students to easily walk to their campuses when they come,” Ray emphasized. DeshGujarat