Gandhinagar to get ₹353-cr riverbanks along GIFT City

The Narmada Water Resources Water Supply and Kalpsar Department has invited bids to develop a 9.3km stretch between PDPU and Shahpur Bridges along the lines of the riverfront in Ahmedabad. The first phase of the project entails an estimated investment of ₹353.58 crore. The authority has planned to develop the riverbanks along the GIFT City. The project will adopt several features of the existing riverfront — right from the lower promenades to the high walls. There will be four ghats on both sides of the riverbanks and there will also be five points on both banks to access the GIFT riverfront. People will be able to get to the riverfront at Dholeshwar temple, Raysan village and Randesan village and those living on the campuses of the Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) and IIT Gandhinagar will also have direct access to the riverfront.

A special governing council will be responsible for formulating policies for the development of the riverfront. The 11.2km riverfront in Ahmedabad ends at Indira Bridge a little further is Hansol where a large 15-day water reservoir for Ahmedabad city is being envisioned for which the irrigation department is finalizing the design. Then, after a small gap, will come the 9.3km riverfront along the GIFT corridor and there is a plan to link both Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad riverfronts to enable visitors to enjoy a 23km continuous ride. The project is expected to complete in two years.