Experts discuss city’s growth and environment in Ahmedabad (ITDP)

AHMEDABAD: Academics, activists and professionals on Wednesday debated how to best deal with the rapid urban growth of Ahmedabad, during a discussion at CEPT University. Many of them advocated drastic changes in building policy, neighbourhood designs and public transport that should keep in mind climate change and carbon footprint.





The discussion was part of the ongoing ‘Ahmedabad CMS Vatavaran Environment and Wildlife Film Festival and Forum’.

Christopher Kost, technical director of the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), showed pictures of flyovers and multi-storey parking spaces being constructed and roads being widened. “These are not going to help reduce greenhouse gas reductions,” Kost said, advocating bus systems like the BRTS be extended, cycle and walking paths be widened instead.

Mahesh Pandya, director of the NGO Paryavaran Mitra, said the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project should have been conceived better since its construction led to the eviction of thousands of lower caste residents who were living along the river’s banks, asking “Who is this development for? And at what cost?”



Architect Saket Sarraf, on the other hand, said following the norms of the US green building definitions is illogical in a place like India where the context is entirely different.

Source: Indian Express