Following a Reactive Monitoring Mission by UNESCO in March this year, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and the Ahmedabad World Heritage City Trust (AWHCT) have established a Guiding Matrix. This rule-by-rule framework determines the specific type of Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) required before any construction project in the Walled City or its buffer zone can receive development permission.
New Approval Process
According to the AWHCT's formal directive to the town development officer, the HIA will be reviewed and recommended by the heritage conservation committee of the Government of Gujarat before the issuance of development or building use (BU) permission. This means no BU permission will be granted for public or private projects within the core Walled City or its buffer zone until a project-specific assessment is cleared by the state government-appointed heritage conservation committee.
Project Categorization
The matrix categorizes projects based on their physical linkage to heritage assets. For any property abutting the fort's wall or a notified heritage structure, height increases are strictly restricted, and any increase in floor area triggers a full detailed HIA. Within designated heritage precincts, even reconstruction requires a screening HIA. New construction exceeding 500 square meters anywhere in the zone automatically requires a detailed HIA, regardless of whether the plot sits near a listed structure, as stated in the AMC's internal policy paper.
Exemptions and Compliance
Small property owners have a narrow exemption. The Final HIA Matrix states that any existing building with ground coverage of 60 square meters or less, where there is no increment in height, footprint, or area, does not require an HIA. However, this exemption lapses entirely if the building abuts a listed structure or falls within a heritage precinct. All approved new construction must also comply with AWHCT facade recommendations and Urban Design Guidelines.
Background
UNESCO's March mission, comprising officers from ICOMOS, UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), flagged limited progress on the Heritage Conservation Plan and Urban Design Guidelines. The new Guiding Matrix aims to address these concerns and ensure proper heritage impact assessments are conducted for all development activities in the historic area.
