Ahmedabad, June 25 (IANS) The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has proposed installing a large statue of Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee at the Sabarmati Riverfront in the city as part of a plan to commemorate his birth anniversary and highlight his contribution to nation-building, Standing Committee Chairman Kamlesh Patel said on Thursday.

The proposal was among several civic decisions and directions discussed following the Standing Committee meeting, after which the Chairman briefed on key developments related to urban administration and infrastructure.

The Chairman said that 6th July marks the birth anniversary of Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, and the corporation has planned to install a prominent statue at the Sabarmati Riverfront Sabarmati Riverfront.

“Necessary instructions have been issued to the Municipal Commissioner for further procedural action,” he said.

Alongside this, the Standing Committee also addressed issues related to unauthorised occupation in EWS quarters in the Asarwa area.

“A member from the locality had raised concerns regarding illegal occupation in 17 houses located in Jupiter Mill EWS quarters,” he said.

According to information provided by the Deputy Commissioner, belongings of the encroachers had been seized, and directions have been issued to initiate legal action through the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner.

On civic property management, the Chairman referred to the multi-level parking facility on Sindhu Bhavan Road, stating that “while AMC traditionally leases properties on a 99-year basis, this case is being examined as a potential permanent sale.”

He said clarification is required on several aspects, including the future use of the second, third and fourth floors of the structure, the extent of Floor Space Index (FSI) utilisation, and the legal position in case redevelopment leads to a high-rise structure of 12 to 14 storeys.

“Further decisions will be taken only after these issues are clearly defined,” he said.

The Standing Committee also reviewed the city’s pest control operations. The Chairman said that in the 2025-26 financial year, a budget of Rs 10.94 crore was approved, of which Rs 5.57 crore has been utilised.

“The number of households in Ahmedabad has increased from 19,34,400 in 2025-26 to 22,88,500 in 2026-27, necessitating an increase in manpower from 704 to 903 personnel,” he noted.

Officials also provided updates on the reconstruction of Subhash Bridge, stating that demolition work began about a month ago with removal of the slab and ongoing removal of girders.

Following earlier observations of structural cracks, preliminary and random testing of components including piers and slabs was conducted, followed by detailed assessments.

These studies indicated that replacing the bridge piers entirely would be more appropriate than repairing only the upper section.

The project is being executed under the EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) model, under which the contractor is responsible for design, approvals and execution.

Subsequently, three independent expert opinions were sought after approval from the Municipal Commissioner. IIT Roorkee IIT Roorkee, IIT Gandhinagar IIT Gandhinagar and bridge consultant Mahesh Tandon Consultants were consulted.

All three experts reportedly concurred that full replacement of the piers would be more suitable for long-term safety and durability, particularly given updated engineering standards.

Officials added that the original Subhash Bridge was constructed around 53 years ago and that current design norms, including loading standards and scour depth requirements, differ significantly from those of the past.

The new design will target a 100-year service life and include an undivided carriageway to improve traffic flow and reduce the likelihood of accidents.

–IANS

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