Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad (અમદાવાદ)
Amdavad / Ashaval / Manchester of the East
—  Metropolitan City  —
Clockwise from top: Skyline at Ashram Road, Sidi Saiyyed ni Jali, Kankaria Lakefront, Ellis Bridge, Dilli Darwaja, Hatheesing Temple
Ahmedabad (અમદાવાદ)
Location of Ahmedabad (અમદાવાદ)
in Gujarat and India
Coordinates
Country  India
State Gujarat
District(s) Ahmedabad
Mayor Kanaji Thakor
Municipal commissioner I.P.Gautam
Police commissioner S. K. Saikia
Civic agency Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation
Population

• Density
• Metro

 6,229,025 (2009)

• 22,473 /km2 (58,205 /sq mi)
• 7,467,580 (5th) (2009)
Official languages Gujarati, Hindi, English[1]
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Area

• Metro
• Elevation

 605 km2 (234 sq mi)

• 10,000 square kilometres (3,900 sq mi)
• 53 metres (174 ft)

Ahmedabad (Gujarati: અમદાવાદ Amdāvād; Urdu: احمدآباد Aḥmadābād) is the sixth largest city and fifth largest metropolis of India, with a city population of approximately 6.1 million and metro population boosting of 7.2 million.[3] Located on the banks of the River Sabarmati, the city is the administrative centre of Ahmedabad district and was the capital of Gujarat from 1960 to 1970; the capital was shifted to Gandhinagar thereafter.In the middle of 1990's it was the fifth largest city in india.In colloquial Gujarati, the city is commonly called Amdavad.

Ahmedabad was founded in 1411 by Sultan Ahmed Shah to serve as the capital of the Gujarat Sultanate, and was named after him. Under the British rule, a military cantonment was established and the city infrastructure was modernized and expanded. Though incorporated into the Bombay Presidency during British rule, Ahmedabad remained the most important city in the Gujarat region. The city established itself as the home of a booming textile industry, which earned it the nickname the "Manchester of the East."[4][5] The city was at the forefront of the Indian independence movement in the first half of the 20th century.[6] It was the centre of many campaigns of civil disobedience to promote workers' rights civil rights and political independence.

With the creation of the state of Gujarat in 1960, Ahmedabad gained prominence as commercial capital of the state. The city is witnessing a major construction boom and population increase. A rising centre of education, information technology and scientific industries, Ahmedabad remains the cultural and commercial heart of Gujarat and much of western India.

Contents

History

Map of Ahmedabad, depicted in a miniature style painting on a cloth, circa 19th century

Archaeological evidence suggests that the area around Ahmedabad has been inhabited since the 11th century, when it was known as Ashapalli or Ashaval.[7] At that time, Karandev I, the Solanki ruler of Anhilwara (modern Patan), waged a successful war against the Bhil king of Ashaval,[8] and established a city called Karnavati located at the present time area of Maninagar close to the river Sabarmati. Solanki rule lasted until the 13th century, when Gujarat came under the control of the Vaghela dynasty of Dholka and Karnavati was conquered by the Sultanate of Delhi. In 1411, the rule of the Muzaffarid dynasty was established in Gujarat. According to legend, Sultan Ahmed Shah, while camping on the banks of the River Sabarmati, saw a hare chasing a dog. Impressed by this act of bravery, the Sultan, who had been looking for a place to build his new capital, decided to locate the capital at this forest area close by to Karnavati right on the river bank and christened it Ahmedabad.[9] The incident is popularly described in a one liner saying "Jab kutte pe sassa aaya, tab Badshah ne shaher basaya". When the hare chased the dog, seeing that act of bravery then the Emperor built the City.

In 1487, Mahmud Begada, the grandson of Ahmed Shah, fortified the city with an outer wall 10 km (6 miles) in circumference and consisting of twelve gates, 189 bastions and over 6,000 battlements.[10] Ahmedabad was ruled by the Muzaffarid dynasty until 1573 when Gujarat was conquered by the Mughal emperor Akbar. During the Mughal reign, Ahmedabad became one of the Empire's thriving centres of trade, mainly in textiles, which were exported to as far as Europe. The Mughal ruler Shahjahan spent the prime of his life in the city, sponsoring the construction of the Moti Shahi Mahal in Shahibaug. During a drought, the Deccan Famine of 1630-32 affected the city, as did famines in 1650 and 1686.[11] Ahmedabad remained the provincial headquarter of the Mughals until 1758, when Mughals surrendered the city to the Marathas.[12] During Maratha governance, the city lost some of its past glory, and was at the center of contention between two Maratha clans—The Peshwa of Poona and the Gaekwad of Baroda.[13] The British East India Company took over the city in 1818 as a part of the conquest of India. A military cantonment was established in 1824 and a municipal government in 1858. In 1864, a railway link between Ahmedabad and Mumbai (then Bombay) was established by the Bombay, Baroda, and Central India Railway (BB&CI), making Ahmedabad an important junction in the traffic and trade between northern and southern India. Large numbers of people migrated from rural areas to work in textile mills, establishing a robust industry.

The Sabarmati Ashram, home of Mahatma Gandhi

The Indian independence movement developed strong roots in the city when, in 1915, Mahatma Gandhi established two ashrams — the Kochrab Ashram near Paldi in 1915 and the Satyagraha Ashram (now Sabarmati Ashram) on the banks of the Sabarmati in 1917 — that would become centers of intense nationalist activities. During the mass protests against the Rowlatt Act in 1919, textile workers burned down 51 government buildings across the city in protest at a British attempt to extend wartime regulations after the First World War.[14] In the 1920s, textile workers and teachers went on strike, demanding civil rights and better pay and working conditions. In 1930, Gandhi initiated the Salt Satyagraha from Ahmedabad by embarking from his ashram on the famous Dandi Salt March. The city administration and economic institutions were rendered functionless by the large masses of people who took to the streets in peaceful protests in the early 1930s, and again in 1942 during the Quit India movement. Following independence and the partition of India in 1947, the city was scarred by intense communal violence that broke out between Hindus and Muslims.

Ahmedabad became the capital of the new state of Gujarat after the bifurcation of the State of Bombay on 1 May 1960. During that period, a large number of educational and research institutions were founded in the city, making it a major center of higher education, science and technology. Ahmedabad's economic base was diversified with the establishment of heavy and chemical industries in its vicinity around the same period. But the growth in the next two decades was punctuated by political events in and around the city. In 1974, Ahmedabad occupied the centre stage in national politics with the launch of the Nav Nirman agitation — a protest against a 20% hike in the hostel food fees at the L.D. College of Engineering that snowballed into a mass agitation against general corruption to remove Chimanbhai Patel, then-chief minister of Gujarat.[15] In the 1980s, a reservation policy was introduced in the country, which led to anti-reservation protests in 1981 and 1985. The protests witnessed violent clashes between people belonging to various castes.[16] On 26 January 2001 a devastating earthquake struck the city, centred near Bhuj, measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale. As many as 50 multistory buildings collapsed, killing 752 people and devastating the city's infrastructure.[17] The following year, Gurajat violence between Hindus and Muslims spread to Ahmedabad, paralysing the city for more than a month. The crisis resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1,044 people across the state.[18] The displacement of thousands of Muslims led to the erection of refugee camps around the city. On 26 July 2008 a series of seventeen bomb blasts rocked the city, killing and injuring several people.[19]

In recent years, the effects of liberalization of the Indian economy has energized the city's economy towards tertiary sector activities like commerce, communication, construction activities.[5] The city has witnessed the establishment of scientific and service industries, the expansion of the information technology sector, and significant improvements in transportation and communications. Ahmedabad's population is growing, which has resulted in a construction and housing boom.[20]

Panoramic view of the city

Geography

Ahmedabad, from IMD
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Geography

Nehru Bridge is one of the nine bridges on the river Sabarmati that connect the two physically separated eastern and western regions.
Vastrapur Lake

Ahmedabad is located at in western India at an elevation of 53 metres (174 ft). The city sits on the banks of the River Sabarmati, in north-central Gujarat. It spans an area of 205 km² (79.15 square miles). The Sabarmati frequently dries up in the summer, leaving only a small stream of water. The city is located in a sandy and dry area. Many of the localities and roads are often spread in sand, reflecting the intensifying fallout caused by deforestation. The steady expansion of the Rann of Kutch threatens to increase desertification around the city area and much of the state. Except for the small hills of Thaltej-Jodhpur Tekra, the city is almost flat. Two lakes are within the city's limits — Kankaria Lake and Vastrapur Lake. Kankaria lake, in the neighbourhood of Maninagar, is an artificial lake developed by the Sultan of Delhi, Qutb-ud-din Aybak, in 1451.[21] According to the Bureau of Indian Standards, the town falls under seismic zone-III, in a scale of I to V (in order of increasing vulnerability to earthquakes)[22]

Ahmedabad is divided by the Sabarmati into two physically distinct eastern and western regions. The eastern bank of the river houses the old city, which includes the central town of Bhadra. This part of Ahmedabad is characterised by packed bazaars, the clustered and barricaded pol system of close clustered buildings, and numerous places of worship. It houses the main railway station, the General Post Office, and few buildings of the Muzaffarid and British eras. The colonial period saw the expansion of the city to the western side of Sabarmati, facilitated by the construction of Ellis Bridge in 1875 and later with the modern Nehru Bridge. This part of the city houses educational institutions, modern buildings, well-planned residential areas, shopping malls, multiplexes and new business districts centred around roads Such as Ashram Road, C. G. Road & Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway.[23]

Climate

Ahmedabad has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSh). There are three main seasons: summer, monsoon and winter. Aside from the monsoon season, the climate is dry. The weather is hot through the months of March to June — the average summer maximum is 45 °C (113 °F), and the average minimum is 23 °C (73 °F). From November to February, the average maximum temperature is 30 °C (85 °F), the average minimum is 15 °C (59 °F), and the climate is extremely dry. Cold northerly winds are responsible for a mild chill in January. The southwest monsoon brings a humid climate from mid-June to mid-September. The average annual rainfall is about 76.0 cm (36.7 inches), but infrequent heavy torrential rains cause the river to flood. The highest temperature recorded is 47 °C (116.6 °F) and the lowest is 5 °C (41 °F).[24] On 21 May 2010, mercury touched 46.8 °C (116.24 °F), making highest temperature recorded in last 40 years in Ahmedabad. In recent years, Ahmedabad has suffered from increasing air, water and soil pollution from neighbouring industrial areas, textile mills and lack of awareness regarding cleanliness among citizens.

Cityscape

Jama Masjid in Ahmedabad

Architecture

The architectural history of Ahmedabad stretches across the last millennium. The Sultanate fused Hindu craftsmanship with Islamic architecture, giving rise to the Indo-Saracenic style. Many mosques in the city are built in this fashion.[25] After independence modern buildings came up in Ahmedabad when renowned architects were given commissions in the city like Louis Kahn who designed the Indian Institute of Management; Le Corbusier who designed the Shodhan and Sarabhai Villas, the Sanskar Kendra and the Mill Owner's Association; and Buckminister Fuller who designed the Calico Dome. B. V. Doshi came to the city from Paris to supervise Le Corbusier's works and later set up the School of Architecture. His local masterpieces include Sangath, the Doshi-Hussain Gufa and the School of Architecture. Charles Correa, who became a partner of Doshi's, designed the Gandhi Ashram and Achut Kanvinde the Indian Textile Industries Research Association. Christopher Charles Benninger's first work, the Alliance Francaise, is located in the Ellis Bridge area. Hasmukh C. Patel, and his son Dr. Bimal Patel, are renowned architects of the city having designed the St. Xavier's High School Loyola Hall, Gujarat High Court and the Ahmedabad Management Association. Anant Raje recently designed a major addition to Louis Kahn's campus, the Indian Institute of Management.

Gardens and parks

Parimal Garden in Ellis bridge area of Ahmedabad

There is a wide spectrum of gardens in Ahmedabad that exhilarate the gleam and appeal of the city. The AMC owns and maintains 76 parks and gardens and 96 traffic islands. There are 9 gardens that are more than 5 acres in area. Ahmedabad has already been honored internationally by 'Green City Commendation Award' as a result of devoted service provided by the Government officials to ensure proper maintenance of the gardens in Ahmedabad.[26]

The 3 most popular and most visited gardens in the city are Victoria Garden, Bal Vatika and Law Garden. Located at the southern verge of the Bhadra Fort, Victoria Garden is a one of the most popular places in the city for people who desire to unwind and chill out. The Victoria Garden contains a statue of Queen Victoria, which is a masterpiece in itself. Bal Vatika is a children's park situated on the grounds of Kankaria Lake. Its close proximity to Kankaria lakefront makes it a wonderful spot to observe nature's splendor. Bal Vatika also houses an Amusement Park and a Water Park for kids. Law Garden got its name from the College of Law that is situated very close to it. It serves as a hub for those 'shopaholics', as scintillating pieces of handicrafts and a wide variety of Gujarati attires are sold here. Other main gardens in the city are Parimal Garden, Prahlad nagar Garden, Lal Darwaja Garden

Civic administration

AMC has undertaken Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project with an objective of environmental improvement with provision of slum rehabilitation for poor.

Ahmedabad is administered by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). Some of the regions surrounding the city are administered by the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA). The AMC was established in July 1950 under the Bombay Provincial Corporation Act, 1949. For administrative purposes, the city is divided into 43 wards.[27] Citizens elect corporators during civic elections. At present the corporation consists of 129 corporators elected from 43 wards. These 129 corporators elect a mayor and deputy mayor for a turn of two and a half years.[5][28][29] Executive powers are vested in the municipal commissioner, who is an IAS officer appointed by the Gujarat state government. The mayor is responsible for the day-to-day running of the municipal school board, the city bus service, the municipal hospital, and the city library.[5] The city serves as the headquarters of Ahmedabad district and as the seat of the Gujarat High Court. The Ahmedabad city police are headed by a Police Commissioner, an Indian Police Service officer.[30] Ahmedabad's Kamla Nehru Zoological Park features endangered species like flamingoes, caracal, Asiatic wolf, chinkara and many more.[31] AMC has initiated the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project with an objective of environmental improvement with provision of slum rehabilitation for poor living on the river banks.

The Gujarat High Court is the supreme judicial body in the state of Gujarat and is located in Ahmedabad.

Ahmedabad boasts of some of the largest number of hospitals in the country - both government and private. The Ahmedabad civil hospital is the largest hospital in Asia.[32] The healthcare in Ahmedabad is one of the best in India. Electricity in the city is provided by Torrent Power group, previously a state-run corporation.[33]

The city elects two members to the Lok Sabha and seven to the Gujarat Vidhan Sabha. Two main political parties have won a significant number of seats in elections — the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress (INC). Of the thirteen assembly seats of Ahmedabad, ten were won by the BJP and three by the Congress Party during the legislative elections in 2007.[34] In the 2005 Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation elections, the BJP won 96 seats, 32 seats went to the Congress, and one seat went to an independent candidate.[35]

Economy

A mall in Ahmedabad. Retail Industry is one of the largest employers in the city

In the 19th century, the textile and garments industry received strong capital investment. On 30 May 1861 Ranchhodlal Chhotalal founded the first Indian textile mill, the Ahmedabad Spinning and Weaving Company Limited.[36] This was followed by the establishment of a series of textile mills such as the Calico Mills, Bagicha Mills and Arvind Mills. By 1905 there were about 33 textile mills in the city.[37] The textile industry further expanded rapidly during the First World War, and benefited from the influence of Mahatma Gandhi's Swadeshi movement, which promoted the purchase of Indian-made goods.[38] Ahmedabad was known as the "Manchester of the East", for its largely expanding realms of the textile industry.[6]

Ahmedabad has a thriving chemicals and pharmaceuticals industry. Two of the biggest pharmaceutical companies of India — Zydus Cadila and Torrent Pharmaceuticals — are based in the city. The city serves as the corporate headquarters of the Adani Group, which is a leading multinational trading and infrastructure development company. The Nirma group of industries, which runs a large number of detergent and chemical industrial units, has its corporate headquarters in the city. In recent year many foreign companies have set up their sales offices and production facilities in Ahmedabad. Amongst them are Bosch Rexroth, Germany (hydraulic components); Stork, Netherlands (textile machinery; joint venture with ATE, India's leading textile equipment trading house); Rollepaal, Netherlands (pipe extrusion equipment); and Johnson Pumps, Sweden.

The completion and operation of the Sardar Sarovar Project of dams and canals has improved the supply of potable water and electricity for the city. In recent years, the Gujarat government has increased investment in the modernisation of the city's infrastructure, providing for the construction of larger roads and improvements to water supply, electricity and communications. The information technology industry has developed significantly in Ahmedabad.[39] A NASSCOM survey in 2002 on the "Super Nine Indian Destinations" for IT-enabled services ranked Ahmedabad fifth among the top nine most competitive cities in the country.[20] City is the largest supplier of denim and one of the largest exporters of Gemstone and Jewellery in India.[5]

GDP of Ahmedabad was 65 billion USD in 2008. A diverse labour force of migrant workers from different parts of Gujarat and neighbouring states is integral to the economy of the city. These workers provide vital household labour and services for the city's large middle class. Ahmedabad plays a strong and significant role in providing commercial resources and market access for the economies of neighbouring cities. A majority of the working-age citizens of Ahmedabad are traders and business people. This has led to the creation of major mercantile corporations and Artisan guilds that are a key influence on the economic life of Gujarat. The city's educational and industrial institutions have attracted students and young skilled workers from the rest of India.[40]

Demographics

Swaminarayan Temple in Kalupur, Ahmedabad

As per the 2001 Indian census, the area under Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has a population of 3,520,085.[2] The population of the Ahmedabad urban agglomeration (which includes the region governed by AUDA) was 4,525,013.[2] The urban agglomeration accounts for 21.7% of Gujarat's urban population.[42] Ahmedabad has a literacy rate of 79.89%, which is the Second highest in Gujarat After Gandhinagar With 87.11%; 87.81% males and 71.12% females are literate.[43] According to the census for the Ninth Plan, there are 30,737 rural families living in Ahmedabad. Of those, 5.41% (1663 families) live below the poverty line.[44] Approximately 440,000 people live in slums within the city.[45] Ahmedabad is home to a large population of Vanias (i.e., traders), belonging to the Vaishnava sect of Hinduism and the sects of Jainism. Most of the residents of Ahmedabad are native Gujaratis.

Although Gujarati is spoken, Hindi is very commonly spoken, especially in commerce, education, politics, government, shops, and road signs. According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report of 2003, Ahmedabad ranks 12th in the list of 35 Indian cities with a population of more than 10 lakh in the crime rate ratio.[46] City's main jail is Sabarmati Central Jail.[47]

Since its founding, the city has attracted migrant workers from other areas of Gujarat, including Kutch and Saurashtra, and from the neighbouring states of Rajasthan and Maharashtra as well as Hindus from the Pakistani province of Sindh. There is a sizeable population of Punjabis, Marathis, Telugu, Tamils, Sindhis, Malayalis and Marwaris, who bring their native language and culture to the city. The most recent arrivals are people from Bihar who mainly work as labourers and are attracted to Gujarat due to greater industrialisation and more employment than their native states. In addition to this, the city is home to some 2000 Parsis and some 300 members of Bene Israel Jews community.[48][49] There are 2273 registered NRI's from Ahmedabad.[50] Slightly less than half of all real estate in Ahmedabad is owned by "community organizations" (i.e. cooperatives), and "the spatial growth of the city is to the extent contribution of these organizations."[51] Ahmedabad Cantonment also provides residential zones for Indian Army officials.[52]

Culture

Festivals

Navaratri celebrations in Ahmedabad.

Ahmedabad enjoys a thriving cultural tradition, being the centre of Gujarati cultural activities and diverse traditions of different ethnic and religious communities. Popular celebrations and observances include Uttarayan — an annual kite-flying day on 14 and 15 January. The nine nights of Navratri are celebrated with people performing Garba — the folk dance of Gujarat — at venues across the city. The festival of lights — Deepavali is celebrated with the lighting of lamps in every house, the decorating the floors with the rangoli and the bursting of firecrackers. Other festivals such as Holi, Ganesh Chaturthi, Gudi Padwa, Eid ul-Fitr and Christmas are celebrated with enthusiasm. The annual Rath Yatra procession on the Ashadh-sud-bij date of the Hindu calendar and the procession of Tajia during the Muslim holy month of Muharram are integral parts of the city's culture.

Cuisine

Vedhmi is a sweet lentil stuffed chapatis.

The people of Ahmedabad enjoy rich culinary traditions. The most popular form of meal — a typical Gujarati thali (meal) — consists of rotli, dal, rice and Shaak (cooked vegetables, sometimes with curry), with accompaniments of pickles and roasted papads. Popular beverages include buttermilk and tea; sweet dishes include laddoos and mango. There are many restaurants, which serve a wide array of Indian and international cuisines. Most of the food outlets serve only vegetarian food, as a strong tradition of vegetarianism is maintained by the city's Jain and Hindu communities. The first all-vegetarian Pizza Hut in the world opened in Ahmedabad. Ice creams are consumed in plenty. Amul has many ice-cream parlours in Ahmedabad. Honest restaurant serves variety of ice creams. On Sundays dinner for most families, from the lower middle class to rich, are in restaurants. After having a Gujarati Thali, one should have a pan for smooth digestion. There are many Pan Stalls located near hotels and restaurants in the city.[53]

Art and Literature

Hussain Doshi Gufa, an underground art gallery in Ahmedabad

Parts of Ahmedabad are known for their speciality of folk art. The Paldi area is famous for shops selling works of embroidery from the Kutch and Saurashtra regions. The artisans of Rangeela pol are famous for making bandhinis (tie and dye work), while the cobbler shops of Madhupura sell traditional mojri footwear. High-quality idols of Ganesha and other religious icons are made in huge numbers in the Gulbai Tekra area. The shops at the Law Garden are famous for their mirror work handicraft. Victorian architecture is showcased in most college, railway station and government buildings, mainly constructed during the colonial period.

Many Gujarati intellectuals migrated to Ahmedabad due to its prosperity. Three main literary institutions were established in Ahmedabad for the promotion of Gujarati literature — Gujarat Vidhya Sabha, Gujarati Sahitya Parishad and Gujarat Sahitya Sabha. Musicians and instrumentalists from across the world come to perform at the popular classical music festival held each 1 January by the Saptak School of Music. The Sanskar Kendra — one of the many buildings in Ahmedabad designed by Le Corbusier — is a city museum depicting history, art, culture and architecture of Ahmedabad. The Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya and the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Memorial have a permanent display of photographs, documents and other articles of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel. The Calico Museum of Textiles has a large collection of Indian and international fabrics, garments and textiles. Ahmedabad maintains a strong popular literary tradition in large public libraries maintained by the literary societies, research and government institutions and colleges. The Hazrat Pir Mohammad Shah Library has a collection of rare original manuscripts in Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Sindhi and Turkish languages.[54]

Sports

Sardar Patel (Gujarat) Stadium, a cricket stadium with 54,000 capacity, in Motera, Ahmedabad

Cricket is the most popular sport in the city. Sardar Patel Stadium, built in 1982, hosts both one-day internationals and test matches.[55] The stadium also hosted the 1996 Cricket World Cup.[56] Ahmedabad also has a second cricket stadium at the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's Sports Club of Gujarat which is the home ground of the Gujarat cricket team that plays in domestic tournament of Ranji Trophy.[57] City is represented by Ahmedabad Rockets in Indian Cricket League which is played in Twenty20 format of the game. Other sports gaining popularity are field hockey, badminton, tennis, and squash. Ahmedabad currently has three golf courses.[58] Mithakhali Multi Sports Complex is being developed by the AMC to promote various indoor sports.[59] There has been a significant increase in recent years in the number of private sports clubs, gymkhanas, gymnasia and sports teams sponsored by corporations, private associations, schools and colleges. Young people congregate in the evenings to play cricket and football at numerous public and neighbourhood grounds. Recently Ahmedabad hosted national level games for roller skating and Table Tennis.[60] Kart racing is fast gaining popularity in the city, with facility of 380 meter long track based on Formula One concept.[61][62] In 2007, Ahmedabad hosted the 51st national level shooting games.[63] Geet Sethi, a five-time winner of the World Professional Billiards Championship and a recipient of India's highest sporting award, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, hails from Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad has produced cricketers such as Jasu Patel and Parthiv Patel who have been members of the Indian cricket team.[64][65] Tejas Bakre, a chess grandmaster, is from Ahmedabad.[66][67] Soccer has also become a very popular sport in Ahmedabad. Gujarat's best goalkeeper Anukal Yana is from Ahmedabad as is Gujarat's best midfielder Rajesh Tadvi.

Transport

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport

Air

The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport is located 15 km from the city centre and 8 km from Ahmedabad Railway station and Bus stand. It serves both domestic and international flights to and from Ahmedabad and the neighboring cities of Surendranagar, Mehsana and Nadiad. The airport connects the city with destinations across India and the world (Abu Dhabi, Doha, Jeddah, Dubai, Bangkok, Frankfurt, Kabul, Kuwait, London, Muscat, Newark, Singapore, Sharjah, Dammam, Riyad, Hongkong, Paris).

It is the busiest airport in Gujarat, and the seventh busiest in India with an average of 250 aircraft movements a day. In 2008 the airport served 5,372,259 passengers.[68] It is expected to handle six million passengers in 2010 and nine million in 2012, including both domestic and international passengers. Nearly all domestic airlines serve Ahmedabad, as do several international ones.

Ahmedabad Railway Station (ADI), one of the busiest station in the country, is a major station on Western Railway.

Rail

Ahmedabad is one of the six operating divisions of the Western Railway.[69] Railway lines connect the city to all towns in Gujarat and other major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Pune, Indore, Bhopal, Lucknow, Jaipur, Jabalpur, Raipur, Hyderabad, Nagpur etc. The Ahmedabad Railway Station, locally known as Kalupur Railway Station is the city's main terminus; Ahmedabad's other stations are Maninagar, Vatva, Gandhigram, Asarva, Chandlodia, Kali gam, Vastrapur, Sabarmati, Sarkhej, Naroda, Aamli.[70]

The state government has registered MetroLink Express Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad Company Ltd as a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the metro rail project connecting Ahmedabad with Gandhinagar. The state government plans to use this SPV as a nodal agency to implement the metro and regional rail project based on public-private partnership for Ahmedabad Region and Gandhinagar Cosmopolitan Region.

Road

Nehru Nagar - Shivranjani Crossroad BRTS Corridor

National Highway 8, linking Delhi to Mumbai, passes though Ahmedabad connecting it with Gandhinagar, Delhi and Mumbai. The National Highway 8C links Ahmedabad to Gandhinagar. It is connected to Vadodara through National Expressway 1, a 94 km (58 mi) long highway with only two exits. This expressway is part of the Golden Quadrilateral project.[71]

Ahmedabad's main traffic arteries are the Ashram Road, C. G. Road, Relief Road and SG Highway. The SG Highway or Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway is also known as Ahmedabad's growth symbol. Transportation For Gandhinagar is available for 24 hours from SG highway. Auto rickshaws, Share Autos and buses are the most popular forms of public transport. The Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS) runs the local bus service in the city. In 2005, AMTS began a drive to convert all of its petrol and diesel engine buses to run on compressed natural gas engines to reduce the effects of air pollution. AMTS runs 750 buses.[72] Bicycles and motorcycles are a popular medium of transport with the city's young people and students.

In 2001, Ahmedabad was ranked as the topmost polluted city in India, out of 85 cities, by the Central Pollution Control Board. The Gujarat Pollution Control Board gave auto rickshaw drivers an incentive of Rs. 10,000 to convert all 37,733 auto rickshaws in Ahmedabad to cleaner burning compressed natural gas to reduce pollution. As a result, in 2008, Ahmedabad was ranked as 50th most polluted city in India.[73]

Ahmedabad BRTS

Ahmedabad BRTS is a Bus rapid transit system for the city, maintained by the Ahmedabad Janmarg Limited (AJL). A part of the first phase connecting R.T.O to Pirana was inaugurated by Chief Minister Narendra Modi on 14 October 2009[74][75][76] and the second half of the first phase connecting Chandranagar to Pushpa Kunj gate at Kankaria was inaugurated on 25 December 2009.[77] Remaining phases are under construction and will be operational by mid 2010.

The BRTS is modelled on the International standards and proved to be highly affordable and effective in operation. It has revolutionised the system of public transport in the city. The buses are comfortable and technically advanced. The system has dedicated corridors running along the middle of the city roads in which no other vehicles are allowed.

Education

The Gujarat University clock tower in Ahmedabad
Louis Kahn Plaza, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad

Schools in Ahmedabad are run either by the municipal corporation, or privately by entities, trusts and corporations. Most schools are affiliated with the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board. A few schools are affiliated to the Central Board for Secondary Education, Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, International Baccalaureate and National Institute of Open School. A large number of colleges in the city are affiliated with Gujarat University. Other deemed universities in Ahmedabad include the Nirma University of Science & Technology and the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University.[78] The Gujarat Vidyapith was established in 1920 by Mahatma Gandhi without a charter from the British Raj and became a deemed university in 1963.[79] Other institutions such as the Indian Institute of Management, the National Institute of Design, the Mudra Institute of Communications, the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, B.J. Medical College, NHL Municipal Medical College and the Center for Environmental Planning and Technology are located in Ahmedabad. Many national academic and scientific institutions, such as the Physical Research Laboratory, the Indian Space Research Organisation, were established in the 1960s largely through the efforts of prominent astrophysicist and industrialist Vikram Sarabhai.[80] The Ahmedabad Management Association is a notable institution established to impart management training and experience to young students and professionals. The campus was opened with a plan to offer 100 courses in various technical disciplines.[81]

The National Institute of Design (NID) is internationally acclaimed as one of the foremost multi-disciplinary institutions in the field of design education and research. NID has been a pioneer in industrial design education after Bauhaus and Ulm in Germany and is known for its pursuit of design excellence to make Designed in India, the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (also known as IIMA), was ranked as the top business school in India according to the Business Today.[82] B-School Rankings in 2007-08 and the ET B-school Survey 2007.[83] It is widely considered to be also one of the toughest MBA programmes in the world to gain admission to as over 200,000 people apply each year for the entrance exam to get into roughly 250 places.

Media

Broadcasting tower of the Ahmedabad Doordarshan [1]

Newspapers in Ahmedabad include Hindi dailies as Herald Young Leader, Metro Herald, and English dailies such as The Times of India, Indian Express, DNA, The Economic Times and The Financial Express, AM. Newspapers in vernacular languages (Gujarati and Hindi) include Divya Bhaskar, Gujarat Samachar, Sandesh, Rajasthan Patrika and Metro. A large number of magazines, periodicals and journals are published from Ahmedabad. The city is home to the historic Navajivan Publishing House — founded in 1919 by Mahatma Gandhi.[84] The Gujarat film and television industry has a small but significant presence in the city.

The state-owned All India Radio is broadcast both on the Medium Wave and FM bands in the city.[85] It competes with six private local FM stations — Radio Mirchi (98.3 MHz), Radio City (91.1 MHz), My fm (94.3 MHz), Radio One (95.0 MHz), Gyan Vaani (104.5 MHz) and S FM (93.51 MHz). Satellite radio was launched in the city by WorldSpace in 2005.[86] The state-owned television broadcaster Doordarshan provides free terrestrial channels, while two multi system operator — InCablenet and Siti Cable — provide a mix of Gujarati, Hindi, English, and other regional channels via cable. Direct broadcast satellite is yet to gain popularity in Ahmedabad. A network of optical fibre cables connects almost the entire city. The city's telephone services are provided by landline and mobile operators such as BSNL, Reliance CDMA & Reliance GSM, Airtel, Uninor, Docomo, Videocon, Aircel, Vodafone, Idea and Tata Indicom. Broadband Internet services are provided in most parts of the city by the telecom companies.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Ahmedabad Languages - Common Languages of Ahmedabad India - Language Spoken In Ahmedabad". www.ahmedabad.org.uk. http://www.ahmedabad.org.uk/culture/language.html. Retrieved 2010-01-08. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Population Finder". Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. 2007. http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Population_Finder/Population_Finder.aspx?Name=Ahmadabad&Criteria=U. Retrieved 2008-08-10. 
  3. ↑ "Population Finder". Census of India. http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Population_Finder/Population_Finder.aspx?Name=Ahmadabad&Criteria=U. Retrieved 2008-07-24. 
  4. ↑ Engineer, Ashgar Ali (2003). The Gujarat Carnage. Orient Longman. p. 196. ISBN 8125024964. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 "Profile of the City Ahmedabad" (PDF). Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation Ahmedabad, Urban Development Authority and CEPT University, Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. 2006. http://www.egovamc.com/cdp/AMC_CDP.pdf. Retrieved 2008-07-22. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 A. Srivathsan (2006-06-23). "Manchester of the east". Young World (The Hindu). http://www.hindu.com/yw/2006/06/23/stories/2006062300300200.htm. Retrieved 2006-07-30. 
  7. ↑ Turner, Jane (1996). The Dictionary of Art. 1. Grove. p. 471. ISBN 1884446000. 
  8. ↑ Michell, George; Shah, Snehal; Burton-Page, John; Mehta, Dinesh (28 July 2006). Ahmadabad. Marg Publications. pp. 17–19. ISBN 8185026033. 
  9. ↑ Setu City Map: Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar. Setu Publications. 1998. p. 1. 
  10. ↑ Kuppuram, G (1988). India Through the Ages: History, Art, Culture, and Religion. Sundeep Prakashan. p. 739. ISBN 8185067082. http://books.google.com/?id=AvggAAAAMAAJ&q=ahmedabad+189+bastions+and+over+6,000+battlements.&dq=ahmedabad+189+bastions+and+over+6,000+battlements.. Retrieved 2008-07-26. 
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  12. ↑ Prakash, Om (2003). Encyclopaedic History of Indian Freedom Movement. Anmol Publications Pvt Ltd. pp. 282–284. ISBN 8126109386. http://books.google.com/?id=SZ3lI4LANVcC&pg=PA283&dq=ahmedabad+mughal+rule+ended+maratha. Retrieved 2008-07-26. 
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  43. ↑ "Director of Literacy in Gujarat". Education Department of Government of Gujarat. http://gujarat-education.gov.in/Literacy/aboutus.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-06. 
  44. ↑ "BPL Census for ninth plan". Ahmedabad District Collectorate. http://revenuedepartment.gujarat.gov.in/applications/content.asp?Content_Id=764&Title_Id=195&language=E&SiteID=8. Retrieved 2006-05-10. 
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  50. ↑ "NRI Directory". Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. http://www.egovamc.com/nri/nri.asp. Retrieved 2008-02-07. 
  51. ↑ Sapovadia, Vrajlal (2007). "A critical study of urban land ownership by an individual vis-à-vis institutional (or community) based ownership - The Impact of type of ownership on spatial growth, efficiency and equity: A case study of Ahmedabad, India" (PDF). Urban Research Symposium 2007. Washington, DC: World Bank. p. 22. http://www.worldbank.org/urban/symposium2007/papers/sapovadia.pdf. Retrieved 2009-05-03. 
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Further reading

  • Muktirajsinhji Chauhan and Kamalika Bose. History of Interior Design in India Vol 1 : Ahmedabad (2007) ISBN 81-904096-0-3
  • Altekar, Anant Sadashiv. A history of important ancient towns and cities in Gujarat and Kathiawad (from the earliest times down to the Moslem conquest. ASIN B0008B2NGA. 
  • Crook, Nigel (1993). India's Industrial Cities: Essays in Economy and Demography. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195631722 
  • Rajan, K. V. Soundra (1989). Ahmadabad. Archaeological Survey of India. 
  • Forrest, George William. Cities of India. Adamant Media Corporation. ISBN 0-543-93823-9. 
  • Gandhi, R (1990). Patel: A Life. Navajivan Press, Ahmedabad. ASIN B0006EYQ0A 
  • Michell, George (2003). Ahmadabad. Art Media Resources. ISBN 81-85026-03-3. 

External links