Ahmedabad has taken a significant step to preserve its UNESCO World Heritage City status by making a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) report mandatory for every construction, renovation, and repair project within the Walled City, its core area, and its buffer zone. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has acted urgently to prevent potential damage to heritage structures, immediately putting 20 ongoing projects on hold and deferring applications until a formal policy framework is established.
Scope of the HIA Mandate
The HIA rule applies to both government and private projects. The assessment evaluates various factors, including altered facades that do not match the original structure, possible structural damage, and erosion of heritage value. According to a senior AMC official, “No new construction, renovation, or repair work within the approximately 6 square kilometers of the Walled City, or along the 2-kilometer-wide stretch covering the buffer zone outside the walls, will receive development permission without a completed HIA.”
Implementation and Expert Panel
The civic body plans to empanel conservation specialists and structural engineers with heritage expertise to conduct HIAs for large-scale projects and buildings. Since Ahmedabad received the UNESCO World Heritage City tag on July 8, 2017, the AMC has approved applications for renovations to around 200 heritage homes in the Walled City, of which 100 have been completed.
UNESCO Monitoring Mission
On March 18 of this year, a joint team from UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre (WHC) and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) visited Ahmedabad for a four-day Reactive Monitoring Mission. The team included an officer from ICOMOS, an officer from WHC, and two officials from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Their purpose was to assess whether Ahmedabad was upholding the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) that earned it the World Heritage designation.
Impact of the Visit
The AMC official stated, “The visit directly prompted the HIA mandate under a new policy being developed to ensure that no government or private project adversely affects heritage value.” Three infrastructure projects drew the sharpest scrutiny from the WHC-ICOMOS team: the railway station in Kalupur, the Danapith multi-level parking and fire station, and the Geetamandir GSRTC bus terminal.
Specific Concerns
The WHC labeled the redevelopment of the railway station a “clear threat” to the heritage core, citing its scale and proximity. It urged authorities to halt zoning amendments there until an independent HIA is conducted. Despite a 3-meter height reduction already implemented, experts warned that the Danapith multi-level parking and fire station project could still degrade the heritage zone by increasing motorized traffic. The Geetamandir GSRTC bus terminal came under scrutiny after damage was reported to a non-listed heritage wall.
The team also expressed sharp concern over “limited movement on two mandatory deliverables: the Heritage Conservation Plan and revised Urban Design Guidelines,” revealed the AMC official. Conservation works at Bhadra Fort, the Sardar Patel Museum, and a newly proposed heritage walk route were also on the team’s itinerary.
