Influence of millowners on Ahmedabads planning

City Reader : Rise and <strong>Influence</strong> <strong>of</strong> Millowners on the Planning <strong>of</strong> Ahmedabad 4
The commercial area developed in two different parts <strong>of</strong> the city. The main zone grew in the
centre <strong>of</strong> the old city, Gandhi Road, the principal arterial road from the Bhadra to the railway
station, with sub-bazaars branching <strong>of</strong>f into Pankore Naka, Manek Chowk and Ratan Pol. It was
here that the modern banking institutions and insurance companies were also established in
course <strong>of</strong> time. Later on, a second commercial zone developed along the modern day Ashram
Road, near the Gujarat Vidyapith, on the western bank <strong>of</strong> the Sabarmati.
From 1940s onwards the central part <strong>of</strong> the walled city was gradually converted from a primarily
residential area into a commercial district. One <strong>of</strong> the effective ways <strong>of</strong> moving the middle class
out <strong>of</strong> the pols and into the western part <strong>of</strong> the town was found in the organization <strong>of</strong> cooperative
housing. The new residential localities were founded mainly in the vast areas beyond
the Ellis Bridge on the western side <strong>of</strong> the river. Further residential localities developed to the
south-west <strong>of</strong> the walled city in Maninagar and round about the Kankaria lake as well as beyond
the industrial zones. In the post-independence period, the residential localities developed in a
ring pattern around Ahmedabad along the national highways going out <strong>of</strong> the city in various
directions.
Thus most <strong>of</strong> the land in Ahmedabad was now neatly arranged into working class areas, middle
and upper middle class residential localities, commercial areas, and, industrial areas. The
<strong>millowners</strong> further extended their dominant position in other spheres <strong>of</strong> urban life by building up
and sustaining patronage networks in various community functions <strong>of</strong> the city. So they began to
deploy new resources to address the needs <strong>of</strong> different groups and in particular they paid close
attention to educational provision.
Now when the mills are gone and <strong>millowners</strong> no more to influence the planning <strong>of</strong> our city why
do we still follow the same trend in ‘planning’ our new centers <strong>of</strong> growth. A prominent example
<strong>of</strong> this is the growth and planning <strong>of</strong> C.G. Road in 90s and growth <strong>of</strong> S.G. Road today. This is
the right time to re-evaluate our approach towards planning our city, before things go out <strong>of</strong> our
hands.
Urban History VI Rahul Raina 2404