Figure 3 Transformation of Asarwa

Figure 3

Transformation of Asarwa

Note. Through this image it is predominantly visible how Asarwa’s hardscape and landscape has changed over two decades. Even though changes were not that predominantly visible, they do affect the growth of Asarwa. The urban Fabric was similar from 2004 to 2012, just the green spaces shifted from one place to another and demolition of industries. From “Understanding the City,” (Unpublished portfolio for Master of Planning by B. Akhil Vardhan, 2021, CEPT University. Copyright 2021 by B. Akhil Vardhan.

Since, 1900’s Asarwa has been an industrial area. Even through the satellite aerial images we can see those larger footprints (Buildings) were constant over years. The change happened around those buildings only. Changes in green built from one place to another, to maintain the ecological changes over years.

Lots of demolitions of industries, especially the cotton mills which were around the Arvind mills, happened after 2000, because of the central government scheme, which is “Industrial DemolitionsRajiv Awaz Yojana – Demolition for new constructions”. After demolishing those buildings, those plots were vacant for a few years and then AMC allocated those top commercial, institutional buildings and residential.

Geographically, Asarwa is a low-lying area which is used as a catchment area for the nearby regions. It being a low-lying area all the rainwater around Asarwa, gets accumulated in the Asarwa lake. From the area imagery we see, there has been a lake in the area for years, however it was not properly maintained until 2000. Due to the governance change in 2000, bought this idea of lake redevelopment. Although it was an initiative in 2000, the project was started in 2010 and done by 2012. Hand-in-Hand, the major transformation of roads happened after 2010 itself. To cater

the need to increase traffic demand, the government introduced chamunda flyover in 2012, which bisects the whole land into two halves. On the south end there are industries and on the north end

it has residential units which are now well connected through this. It helped in increasing the economic growth of Asarwa, in terms of cotton trading.

In 2015 proper BRTS corridor was introduced in the southern portion of the Asarwa. It helped in having better connectivity with adjacent markets. As Asarwa is based on industries and wholesale markets, a lot of trading is done in terms of day-to-day business. So, people around Ahmedabad come here for their shopping, especially for some Gujarati spices. Most of them prefer using BRTS over any other service.

Along with BRTS development, even public housing got started in the central portion of asarwa, under the scheme of “Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission” (JNNURM) in which new public housing and BRTS Corridor (kalupur) were added.

So Over 20 years the urban fabric of Asarwa, was well developed and self-sustained for itself. It shows how capable this place can be, if it goes into the right hands. Still the potential development is seen in this region, even people who reside there, corporate for its betterment and work along with the government policies.