Ahmedabad: Without a doubt, the state government is advancing elevated structures in Ahmedabad city. For that reason, it has increased the FSI for structures going up to a stature of 100-150 meters and has even reported that it will permit development of 100-story structures in the city. In any case, on the ground, Constructor are not really keen on anything higher than 25 stories, saying the expense of development of exceptionally tall structures is excessively high. Furthermore, home purchasers are simply ready to go up to 20 stories, best case scenario.
In eight years from 2014 to 2021, the AMC has approved 49 buildings with a height of more than 45 metres or even 70 metres (15 to 25 floors approx). According to Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation officials, construction costs are high for a building with a height of 70 metres. Builders are not interested in more than 25 floors (or 70 metres) as the project then does not remain cost-effective, says a senior AMC official. Also, buyers are hard to come by in such projects as they find maintenance costs high, he said.
The government had approved the city development plan made by AUDA in 2014. Special provisions were made in the plan. Ashram Road — from Usmanpura to Ellisbridge — was declared as a Central Business Corridor (CBD), where 5.4 FSI was allowed for the first time. This was done with a view to develop Ashram Road as a business hub, but till the date only three high-rise buildings have come up in the CBD.
Similarly, land on both the sides of the metro rail and BRTS route was declared as Transit Oriented Zone (TOZ), which was given an FSI of 4. The AMC was also given the authority to clear 45-metre high buildings up to 15 floors. A committee was formed under the chairmanship of the municipal commissioner to give approvals for buildings with a height of 45 metres to 70 metres.
According to the official, builders are interested in constructing 10-15 floor buildings on TOZ’s wide roads. Every year, 10-15 storey buildings with a height of 45 metres come up there. In the last eight years, the AMC has approved about 250 buildings of up to 45 metres height, and 49 buildings with more than 45 metres height.
Earlier in 2013, Zydus hospital in Thaltej TP scheme no. 38 FP 232 was given permission under the hospital policy for ground-plus-15 floors with a height of 63.7 metres.
“Ahmedabad has high-rise buildings ranging from 45 to 70 metres height, which mainly includes luxurious apartment schemes. The number of commercial buildings is lower. The maintenance in residential apartments is quite high as super-fast lifts are needed in such tall buildings. In the commercial category, hotels and commercial-use concepts are fast emerging. Till now, four hotels have been given approval,” the AMC official said.
Buildings with more than 45 metre height
Type of buildings Number
- Residential 22
- Commercial 16
- Residential+ commercial 03
- Stadium 02
- Hotel 04
- Education 01
The govt has given a nod for FSI of 3 to 4 on roads with a width of 24 to 36 metres in all the five state metros. Approval has been given to 70-metre high buildings. A panel has been formed, but till the date only one plan has been submitted. The builder has planned to develop a 33-storey building on Sola Science City road. Two other big projects of 33 or more floors are in the pipeline.