AMC Plans ₹155-Crore Temple Tourism Circuit Along Sabarmati River

Ahmedabad: The Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) Heritage Department has prepared a ₹155.02-crore master plan to develop a temple tourism circuit along the eastern bank of the Sabarmati River, connecting Saptarishi Ghat with Jagannathji Temple and Shri Atal Ghat through Jalyatra Marg.

The project aims to conserve and restore the city’s historic temples while creating temple plazas and improving public spaces along the riverfront. The process of obtaining a grant from the Gujarat Holy Pilgrimage Development Board for the said work has also been initiated, of which a grant of ₹15.00 crore has currently been allocated to the AMC.

The master plan has been divided into three zones covering various heritage and religious sites along the river.

Under Zone 1, the plan includes two components. Part 1 proposes a multi-level parking facility, a food plaza and a Heritage Interpretation Centre on the Sabarmati riverbank behind Tilak Bagh. Part 2 includes the development of a temple square near the temples around Rambari, opposite Vasant Chowk and Atal Ghat. The existing ancient temples in the area will also be renovated.

Under Zone 2, development works have been planned around the Jagannath Temple and Somnath Bhudar Aaro, along the Jalyatra Marg.

Zone 3 has also been divided into two parts. Part 1 proposes the development of a temple square near Saptarishi Ghat by renovating existing temples and installing sculptures depicting the Saptarishis. Part 2 includes the restoration and redevelopment of houses in the existing slum area on government land towards the east of Sadar Marg under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) housing scheme.

As part of the temple tourism circuit, the AMC plans to develop the stretch from Saptarishi Ghat to Atal Ghat by constructing new temple plazas, restoring existing temples and re-establishing heritage structures.

Around 35 ancient temples have been identified along the approximately 2-km-long route. These include the Mahalaxmi Temple near Manekburj, temples near Rambari, the Ganapati Temple at Vasant Chowk, Maruti Temple and Krishna Temple, among others. The plan envisages renovation of the ancient temples, restoration of existing structures and development of surrounding temple plazas.

Meanwhile, a tender for one of the works under the project has been proposed for approval by the AMC Standing Committee through the Road and Building Committee. Sawali Heritage Conservation Pvt. Ltd. has emerged as the contractor, submitting a bid 5.5% below the estimated cost. The proposed tender value is ₹13,98,89,892.14.

The broader project is aimed at combining heritage conservation with religious tourism and improving the visitor experience along one of Ahmedabad’s historically significant stretches of the Sabarmati riverbank.

DeshGujarat