AMC Announces New Demolition Policy; Mandates 7-Day Prior Notice, 15% Waste Reuse

Ahmedabad: The Amdavad Municipal Corporation’s (AMC) town planning committee on Wednesday approved the draft Ahmedabad Sustainable Demolition Policy 2026, proposing stricter safety, pollution control and debris disposal norms for demolition activities across the city. The draft will now be placed before the standing committee for approval.

Under the proposed policy, property owners and contractors could face penalties, stop-work orders and police complaints for unauthorised demolition or violations of prescribed norms. Owners and other responsible parties would also be held liable for damage to neighbouring properties or injuries caused during demolition. AMC may additionally initiate proceedings under the Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporations Act for violations, according to an official statement.

The draft policy requires demolition permission at least seven days in advance for structures with a built-up area exceeding 500 square metres. Property owners must also submit written notifications to the zonal estate and town development departments at least seven days before demolition, along with photographs and details of the building.

For structures taller than 15 metres or with a built-up area exceeding 10,000 square metres, applicants must submit a structural assessment, a construction and demolition waste management plan, and an environmental and safety plan. Demolition activities must be supervised by designated engineers, with stricter monitoring for larger sites.

The policy categorises demolition sites into five groups based on building height and built-up area. It mandates barricades, safety nets wherever required, protective equipment for workers, and measures to safeguard utilities, neighbouring properties and road users. Demolition activities would also be restricted to daytime hours.

To control dust pollution, the draft prescribes barriers, misting systems and monitoring measures. Demolition debris must be covered, cleared within 48 hours and transported in covered vehicles to authorised processing facilities. Transport logs and receipts would be mandatory depending on the category of demolition site.

The draft also proposes the mandatory use of at least 15% construction and demolition waste or recycled products in construction or reconstruction projects falling under higher categories. The provision aims to promote resource recovery while supporting urban redevelopment. DeshGujarat