sabarmati-riverfront-brochure

tmentsBeforeRehabilitation ofSlum DwellersGujari Bazaar -Sunday MarketBeforeAs a place for the poor to build their hutmentsThere were nearly 12000 hutmentson both banks of the river occupying nearly20 per cent of the critical project area. Acommittee was formed under an ex-HighCourt Judge for finalization of beneficiariesand a Comprehensive Settlement was arrivedat under the supervision of the hon’bleGujarat High Court. More than 10000families have already been allotted housesfor resettlement. 9078 odd families havealready been shifted and the remaining isunder the process. Of the total allotments,6 were Christian, 3874 were Muslims and5198 were Hindus. Each house is of 26.77 sqm carpet area. They were provided with aplaying area for kids along with recreationfacility. Normally, such relocations of slumsusually happen in far-off outskirt areas ofthe city, whereas in this case the resettlementareas were very much in the prime locationsin the city. Current market value of thesehouses is in the range of INR 10 to 25 Lakhs.Since a river is treated as the mother inIndia, it was decided to empower the womenin this rehabilitation project by allocating thehouse in the name of the woman member orin joint name.Gurjari Bazaar is an age old Sunday Market,where women traders comprise close to 40 per centand half of these describe themselves as Dalits. Thebazaar provides livelihood for an estimated 200,000lower-income residents, through a complex regionalchain of artisan entrepreneurs, home workers,mechanics, technicians and small traders. It used tooperate near Ellis Bridge on the Riverfront without anyinfrastructure and used to spill out on the adjoiningapproach road. It was unhygienic and subjected torisk of flooding during monsoons. Now, it has becomethe first well developed informal market in India. AMoU was signed between the Ahmedshah GurjariAssociation and Sabarmati riverfront DevelopmentCorporation. Out of 1200 members of association,726 members (60.5%) are Hindus and 474 members(39.5%) are Muslims.Today it is spread over 70,000 sq.mt and 1600vendors can do their business on 778 pucca platformsand 783 laris. Adequate parking space is providedfor 280 two wheelers, 425 four wheelers (1700 twowheelers) and 8 no’s of heavy vehicles. More than200 street lights have been provided in this Marketand 800 trees have been planted. Also other basicfacilities like toilets, food-court, drinking water, andseating area have been provided. With this uniquerehabilitation exercise, the litigation and the stayorder from the High Court could also be vacated topave way for the new initiative.NowNow6 7