Riverfront devpt project has a dark underbelly

Displaced families face crumbling homes and an uncertain future amidst award-winning development of riverfront

The Sabarmati Riverfront Project, lauded with awards for 'Urban Design & Concept,' 'Safety Award,' and 'HUD-CO-Best Practices to Improve the Living Environment,' is now facing scrutiny as the living conditions of the displaced families have taken a nosedive.

Late lawyer Girish Patel's tireless efforts in the High Court led to the establishment of 21 resettlement sites in areas like Shahpur, Rakhiyal, Odhav, Ranip, Vasna and Balol Nagar, providing shelter to over 13,000 families displaced by the project. However, these freshly constructed homes, built at a cost of Rs 182 crore in 2012, have rapidly deteriorated, posing a serious threat to the residents' safety. The dilapidated buildings have become a ticking time bomb, raising concerns about looming disasters.