Ahmedabad: The Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) plans to permanently close a 750-meter stretch of Ashram Road, from Cargo Motors Road to the RTO, likely from December 15. This closure is because of two major projects, namely the Vadaj Ramdevpir Tekra slum rehabilitation initiative and the development of the Gandhi Ashram Memorial and Precinct.

In lieu of the closed stretch, a new 18-meter-wide road is under construction from the Cargo Motors building. This road will connect to the 24-meter-wide road through the Prabodh Raval Bridge on the 132-Foot Ring Road. The west bank road of the Sabarmati riverfront will then link to the 24-meter road via Ramapir Tekra, directly connecting to the Ranip GSRTC bus stand.

Approximately 50 meters of the 1.5-kilometer stretch of the new road is yet to be completed, with the entire construction expected to finish by December 15. However, officials are deliberating whether to keep the Ashram Road stretch open for a transitional period even after the new road opens.

An AMC official involved in the Gandhi Ashram redevelopment project mentioned, “If both are kept open for a while, commuters will get familiar with the alternative road and this way will avoid a lot of hassles.” A final decision regarding the closure will be made by December 15.

In 2016, the AMC approved the Vadaj slum redevelopment project, allocating 75 acres divided into six sectors with approximately 8,000 housing units. Simultaneously, the Gandhi Ashram Redevelopment project aims to develop 55 acres of Ashram property at an estimated cost of Rs 1,200 crore. DeshGujarat