8 months ago
Sankdi Sheri's Heritage Makeover Pilot Project
A narrow street in Ahmedabad called Sankdi Sheri is getting a special makeover.
This street is very old and has beautiful buildings.
A team from CEPT University is working on a plan to make the street better for walking and driving while keeping its history alive.
They want to fix traffic problems, make the sidewalks nicer, and protect the old buildings.
If the plan works, they might do the same thing in other parts of the old city.
The team looked at how Kyoto in Japan did it and came up with ideas like giving rewards to people who take care of the old buildings.
They also want to make sure the street looks nice with rules about signs and how buildings are built.
The goal is to make Sankdi Sheri a better place for everyone while keeping its special history.
Sankdi Sheri, a narrow street in Ahmedabad's Khadia area, is the focus of a heritage preservation and urban mobility pilot project.
The project aims to address traffic congestion, enhance pedestrian spaces, and preserve the area's cultural and historical context.
CEPT University is designing a Local Area Plan (LAP) with incentives like heritage preservation, facade regulations, and Transfer of Development Rights (TDR).
The street features 3 Grade IIA, 7 Grade IIB, and 11 Grade III heritage structures, each with different levels of protection.
If approved by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), the model could be replicated in other precincts within the walled city.
- Who
- CEPT University, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, City Heritage Centre, Ahmedabad Heritage Society
- What
- Pilot project for heritage preservation and urban mobility in Sankdi Sheri
- Where
- Sankdi Sheri, Khadia area, Ahmedabad
- When
- Ongoing, with potential approval by AMC
- Why
- To address traffic congestion, enhance pedestrian spaces, and preserve cultural heritage
Key facts
- Location
- Khadia area, Ahmedabad
- Length
- 300 metres
- Heritage Structures
- 3 Grade IIA, 7 Grade IIB, 11 Grade III
- Proposed Incentives
- Heritage preservation, facade regulations, TDR, conservation credits
- Case Study
- Kyoto, Japan
- Key Stakeholders
- CEPT University, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, City Heritage Centre, Ahmedabad Heritage Society
- Project Goals
- Traffic congestion, pedestrian spaces, public realm, heritage preservation
- Potential Replication
- Other precincts within the walled city
Quotes
Banchhanidhi Pani
Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner
“We are thinking about considering it as a pilot Local Area Plan for heritage conservation and revitalisation in the old city. The AMC team has visited the site and studied possible solutions”
indianexpress.com
Rajeev Patel
City-based developer and co-founder of the City Heritage Centre and Ahmedabad Heritage Society
“Now after 2017 – eight years since UNESCO heritage city tag an intent for a scale up – a mass restoration of precincts – the entire area should have happened. By now TDR is a good help – but more things are to be done. We have so many examples in smaller countries like Nepal, Vietnam”
indianexpress.com
Prof Jignesh Mehta
Programme Chair of Master of Urban Planning at CEPT University and Senior Adjunct Associate Professor
“How to leverage and conserve what we have. We need to start with what is more feasible as well as visible. That is the reason Sankdi Sheri was chosen rather than other roads like Gandhi Road. LAPs can be prepared precinct by precinct”
indianexpress.com
N Lanchenba M Singh
Final year student of Masters of Urban Planning
“We studied Kyoto (Japan) as a case study from where we drew some of the examples on conservation and revitalization of heritage structures. For Sankdi Sheri, among the recommendations are all street-facing facades shall be constructed along the original built-to-line with no front setback. The horizontal and vertical alignment of openings, cornices, balconies and parapets shall correspond with adjoining facades to maintain a continuous street rhythm. Any architectural replication shall be carried out using authentic traditional materials and craftsmanship consistent with established heritage practices. The use of artificial, imitative, or substitute materials is strictly prohibited”
indianexpress.com
Joyita Chaterjee
Final year student of Urban Planning
“We have also proposed increasing Transferable Development Rights (TDR) so the owners benefit from the sale of Heritage Transferable Development Rights (HTDR). From an existing 50 per cent of utilised Floor Space Index (FSI) 150-200 per cent is proposed for the highest graded heritage value structure. This increased TDR can benefit the owners by selling the HTDR”
indianexpress.com
Kshitij Sharma
Final year student of Urban Planning
“On an online portal, developers provide funds for conservation and renovation works in exchange for subsidised purchasable FSI or credit points. Owner of property does not get immediate benefit but a long-term one through maintenance incentive”
indianexpress.com
