The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has spent Rs 54 crore on a project to demolish the Danapith fire station and construct a new building combining a fire station and multi-level parking, along with a pedestrian bridge connecting the parking to the corporation's headquarters. However, six years later, the building stands ready, but the pedestrian bridge has not been constructed.
UNESCO Assessment and Heritage Concerns
AMC sources revealed that a UNESCO team visited Ahmedabad in March 2026 to evaluate the heritage impact of various projects, including the redevelopment of Kalupur railway station and the Danapith multi-level parking. This assessment may have influenced the project's timeline.
Delays and Design Changes
The Danapith project has faced multiple delays due to design alterations, tender modifications, and implementation issues. Initially, a pedestrian bridge was announced, but it was not specified during the plan-approval stage. Now that the building is complete, there appears to be no plan for the bridge.
An AMC official stated that the pedestrian bridge was not included in the tender provisions because it was not planned during the tendering process. If earlier officials discussed the bridge, the current team has no knowledge of such discussions.
Height Reduction and Parking Capacity Loss
In 2020, AMC demolished the Danapith fire station, but subsequent steps stalled for over a year and a half. The archaeological department granted a no-objection certificate (NOC) but reduced the building's height from 21 meters to 18 meters due to heritage property regulations. This led to design changes and a reduction in parking capacity by more than 100 vehicles.
The current building includes two basements, a ground floor, and six floors for staff and public parking, covering approximately 28,000 square meters.
Rotary Parking Plan Scrapped
In February 2024, a proposal was approved to install a rotary parking system for 12 cars at the Danapith multi-level parking near AMC's main office. The estimated cost was Rs 1 crore, including five years of maintenance. However, this pilot project has been scrapped.
