Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) is yet to finalise the draft of the new Development Plan (DP), even though the tenure of the existing Ahmedabad Development Plan-2021 ended nearly a year ago. Traditionally, a new DP is prepared before the previous one expires, but this time AUDA has adopted a different approach.

Instead of the usual 10-year cycle, AUDA is preparing a 20-year Development Plan (DP-2041), keeping in view the long-term growth of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar and their bid to host the 2036 Olympics.

Work on the long-term plan has begun, with AUDA designing the city’s first development blueprint with a two-decade horizon. The authority is seeking technical assistance from institutions such as the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) and is also hiring additional staff through outsourcing.

AUDA prepared its first draft plan, DP-2011, in 2001. The second plan, DP-2021, was drafted between 2011 and 2014 and approved by the state government in December 2014. Work has now started on the third plan DP-2041.

In July 2022, AUDA’s board approved the proposal for a 20-year DP and sanctioned a dedicated DP Unit along with funds for consultants and operational expenses.

Sources said the upcoming plan may include provisions linked to the potential 2036 Olympics, including development of sports infrastructure through public-private partnerships (PPP), with a focus on securing land.

While DP-2021 promoted a ‘Compact City’ model centred on public transport allowing an FSI of 4.0 along Metro and BRTS corridors and 5.4 in the Ashram Road business district DP-2041 aims to position Ahmedabad as a global metropolitan city.

The authority is also expected to prioritise about 20 villages within a 5-km radius outside the SP Ring Road for major infrastructure development. Though the plan spans 20 years, it may include a provision for review after a decade. DeshGujarat