Govt approves riverfront land disposal policy

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat govt has given the green light to the Sabarmati Riverfront Land Disposal Policy, paving the way for the auction of development rights for 17 plots along the iconic Sabarmati Riverfront in the upcoming months.
Under this policy, the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Ltd (SRFDCL) will auction development rights for plots spanning 1.49 lakh sq m of land across seven distinct value zones along the riverfront.Notably, for the first time, SRFDCL will permit mixed-use development within a single plot.
The state urban development department is set to issue a notification soon, enabling SRFDCL to initiate the auction process, starting with 10 of the 17 plots located in the western part of the riverfront.
Last Oct, the SRFDCL board approved the land disposal policy, which organizes the riverfront land into seven value zones and proposes the sale of development rights to developers. Earlier this year, the Sabarmati Riverfront Land Disposal Policy 2023 underwent amendments inspired by the GIFT City model, fixing base prices for each value zone and the corresponding development rights.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, an SRFDCL official revealed, “A decade ago, 1.75 lakh sq m of land was earmarked for auction on the Sabarmati Riverfront, divided into 49 plots. Now, under the revised policy, 1.49 lakh sq m of land is set for auction across 17 plots.” Previously, the 49 plots included smaller parcels near Vallabh Sadan. The official said, “Under the new policy, SRFDCL will auction development rights for restructured 17 plots, including allocations for NID, Keshavnagar, riverfront multilevel parking and multiple plots near Vallabh Sadan. Auctions for seven plots on the eastern side will be finalized soon.”
Another senior SRFDCL official highlighted the delayed auction process of six to 10 years.
“Areas like Sindhu Bhavan Road, SP Ring Road, and SG Highway have seen increased developer interest,” he said. “We are now proceeding to auction development rights for 17 plots, adopting principles from the successful GIFT City model.”