Govt calls for pvt sector tie-up for infrastructure development

As many as 257 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) pledging investment of Rs 1,02,599.50 crore were signed in this sector. Gujarat Urban Development Company (GUDC) signed 10 MoUs worth over Rs 22,500 crore. They were signed for various infrastructure projects such as housing,township,storm water drainage,waste management and the like.

Nearly 39.35 per cent of the population of Gujarat lives in urban areas and the figure is expected to rise to 45 per cent. The Urban Development Minister,Nitin Patel,also expressed the need to get support of the private sector. “If private sector investments go to smaller cities in Gujarat,then only employment opportunities will increase.”

Big projects like the Sabarmati Riverfront Development (SRFD) and Gujarat International Finance Tech City (GIFT) were promoted. GIFT is expected to generate employment for five lakh people. An MoU of Rs 10,000 crore was signed for the SRFD project by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and the Gujarat Urban Development Authority.

Sudhir Mankad,the chairman of GIFT,said: “The existing cities were not planned well. Therefore,we are planning to construct GIFT. It will be well designed in 30 blocks with 147 buildings. About 24 per cent will be for residential purpose,while 60 per cent will be commercial.

The rest will be for public use.

The buildings will have 33 per cent green spaces.”

According to Mankad,GIFT will have BRTS and metro tram service connectivity. A unique PRT (personal transit system) method of transport will be introduced. Nearly 12 acres of parking space will be constructed with a capacity of 30,000 vehicles. “PRT will have small vehicles running three times faster than a car. They will have a dedicated guide way,boarding stations and route information pre installed,” he added.

GIFT would cost Rs 70,270 crore. The core infrastructure would cost Rs 10,475 crore and the real estate contribution will be Rs 34,774 crore; user pay will be Rs 25,021 crore.

John Kim,a developer from Korea,told Newsline: “We came to Gujarat upon invitation by a very efficient ‘businessman’. We are looking forward to GIFT,as we are promoting a concept of ‘U’ city for it. It is a concept of sustainable infrastructure; and depending on the talks,we might provide the same. Information technology is the base of this system.”

MOUs SIGNED
Housing and Township: Rs 36.154 crore
Commercial Developments: Rs 32,477 crore
Infrastructure Developments: Rs 10,150 crore