200ha of agri land rezoned for Ahmedabad's Olympian ambition

Ahmedabad: The city is being reshaped as it pushes forward with its plans to bid for the Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympics . The city's apex urban planning body, the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (Auda), has approved major zoning changes in areas surrounding the proposed 45-metre-wide Sanand-SP Ring Road corridor, paving the way for residential and sports infrastructure projects.

At the heart of these changes is the land around Shilaj, Manipur, and Palodia, where 82.8 hectares earlier classified as "prime agricultural zone", will now be converted into residential zone-2 (R-2).

In addition, 117.4 hectares spread across Godhavi, Nidhrad, and Kaneti will shift into residential zone (R-1). Together, these moves unlock vast tracts of land for new housing, sports facilities, and transport links that will form part of the ‘South-West Ahmedabad Sports Arena', capable of hosting the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games.

The decision was cleared in the Auda's 306th board meeting on July 14. A senior Auda official told TOI, "Rezoning will speed up work on the planned 45-metre road, which cuts through these lands and will be crucial for easing traffic between Sanand and the city."

He added, "This corridor has development potential on both sides. Rezoning will ensure that the road can be constructed without delay."

In 2014, when state govt approved the Ahmedabad Development Plan , 2021, the policy locked nearly 33 hectares in Shilaj into agricultural status, restricting construction. A decade later, the city is rewriting those rules to align with its Olympian ambitions.

A new town planning scheme, 244, will cover Shilaj, Manipur, and Palodia. The TP-12 scheme will cover Godhavi, Nidhrad, and Kaneti.

The impact of the rezoning will be far-reaching. In the same 306th meeting, the Auda also cleared proposals to draft seven new TP schemes in villages surrounding Ahmedabad, covering nearly 1,000 hectares.

These schemes, spread across Saij, Manipur, Godhavi, Kaneti, and Nidhrad, will provide planned plots for residential and commercial use, as well as reserve space for roads and civic infrastructure in the future.

BOX

Primed to host Olympics

1. Efforts are underway to make Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar ready to host the 2036 Olympics. Earlier, a master plan for the Sardar Patel Sports Enclave was prepared for 650 acres surrounding the Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera. Land acquisition for the enclave is being handled by govt, the AUDA, and the AMC

2. State govt will soon develop the Sardar Patel Sports Enclave at an estimated cost of Rs 5,050 crore. The construction is scheduled to be completed by Dec 2028

3. Over the next decade, Ahmedabad is likely to host the Asian Weightlifting Championship, the World Combat Games, the U-20 World Athletics Championship, the World Police and Fire Games, the World Aquatics Championship, and the Asian Youth Games

4. Ahmedabad is vying to host the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics