Latest news with #AhmedabadMunicipalCorporation
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
43 units fined Rs 6.17L over mosquito breeding, notice to 276
Ahmedabad: In a bid to control the spread of vector-borne diseases during the monsoon season, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) health department officials carried out an inspection on Tuesday to detect mosquito breeding at commercial premises. Out of 464 units inspected across various city zones, 276 were found with mosquito breeding sites and were issued notices. Additionally, 43 units were penalised, resulting in a total fine collection of Rs 6.17 lakh. Those penalised include 10 hospitals, including City Hospital (Gota), Shubham Hospital (Thaltej), Ananta Hospital (Nikol), Rajasthan Hospital (Shahibaug), SAL Hospital (Thaltej), VIMS Hospital (Sabarmati), Vedant Hospital (Navrangpura), Parekh Hospital (Nikol), and both Medilink and Shalby Hospitals in Jodhpur. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad Several commercial entities were also fined by the AMC. Adani Gas in Maninagar was fined Rs 1 lakh, while Laxmi Courtyard in Lambha and JP Iscon in Bodakdev were fined Rs 50,000 each. Tree Star Hotel in Thaltej and Ankool Textile Mill in Khadia faced Rs 25,000 fines, and Fortune Landmark Hotel near Stadium Circle was fined Rs 20,000. Other establishments were fined amounts ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 12,000. The civic body urged both commercial and residential property owners to eliminate stagnant water and maintain hygiene to prevent mosquito breeding.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation altered design, defect liability, direction in 8 bridges, alleges Oppn
Ahmedabad: At Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's (AMC) general body meeting on Monday, Opposition leader Shehzad Khan Pathan accused the civic body of altering the design, direction and defect liability on eight bridges in the city. He said, "Flyovers, railway overbridges, or underpasses built by AMC in the past decade have not been completed within stipulated timelines. In most cases, design was altered after work started, leading to significant cost overruns and project delays." Pathan said, "The CRRI-CSIR report suggested a four-lane flyover at the Income Tax junction, but AMC built a five-lane one. In 2013, the Ranip-GST crossing flyover was delayed. The flyover's descent was on 5,000sq m railway land, for which it was decided to compensate railways with land. After approving a flyover at Ajit Mill junction, the design was changed due to a main water trunk line passing underneath. The CRRI-CSIR report did not suggest a flyover at the Naranpura Pallav junction. An underpass was to be built there, but AMC built a flyover. An expenditure of Rs 18 to 20 crore was incurred to place overhead power lines underground." Citing the report commissioned by the central govt's CRRI-CSIR institution in 2011-12, Pathan said a split flyover with two lanes each, totalling four lanes, was suggested over a 120ft road from Vijay Crossroads to Nehru Nagar road via Gujarat University at the Navrangpura Panjarapol junction. However, a new report was obtained from IITRAM, and it was decided to construct a flyover on the road from Government Polytechnic College to IIM at the Panjarapol junction. On March 4, 2024, chief minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the Jalaram underpass in Paldi, but it was closed to the public within hours of being opened. It was inaugurated despite being incomplete. Initially pegged at Rs 45 crore, its cost escalated to Rs 83 crore, Pathan told the meeting. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad He further said that on April 13, 2023, the standing committee approved the proposal for a flyover at Sattadhar Junction at a cost of Rs 81.49 crore with amendments. The committee initially set the defect liability at five years, which was later reduced to three years under pressure from the contractor, he alleged. The Hatkeshwar flyover bridge, set to be demolished after being unused for 1,000 days, is a symbol of corruption, Pathan said. He said, "Even after the CRRI-CSIR report, the direction of the flyovers was changed, and design alterations were made." To this, deputy mayor Jatin Patel responded, "There is no connection between the CRRI-CSIR report and the bridge design." There was a heated exchange between the opposition leader and the deputy mayor over the report issue.
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
English-medium admissions double in a year in AMC schools
Ahmedabad: English-medium sections in schools run by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) have been registering a sustained increase in new primary school admissions with a growing number of parents now preferring English, the most widely spoken language in the world, as a medium of instruction. AMC data revealed that in 2024, 3,953 new students enrolled in English-medium sections in its primary schools, doubling from 1,967 students in 2023. Of these, 1,629 students joined pre-primary schools, while 2,246 were admitted to Class 1, reflecting a growing desire among parents to begin their child's English education early. Dr Lagdhir Desai, municipal school board administrative officer, says the demand has increased so rapidly that eight of the 55 English medium sections are now running at full capacity, with more than 400 students on the admission waitlist. "Parents are becoming increasingly aware of the fact that English opens doors to higher studies and jobs," Desai said. "This demand wasn't present a decade ago." You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad He added that from a single school in Shahpur in 2010, AMC now runs 55 English medium schools across the city, where two more standards (grades) are being added every two years to keep pace with students advancing through classes. Ruchita Shah, principal of AMC's Thaltej Public School's English medium section, which has 273 students and has seen 48 new admissions this year, agrees. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Global Indices Are on the Move — Time to Trade! IC Markets Learn More Undo "Parents now want their children to be confident English speakers. For many, it's a matter of academic aspiration and long-term planning," she said. The trend, fuelled by hopes of access to better prospects and improved language skills, reflects a larger shift in how lower- and middle-income urban families perceive public education.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Spike in temporary parking plots as AMC tweaks jantri discount
Ahmedabad : In areas like Bopal, Thaltej, Bodakdev, Gota, Ghatlodia, and Vejalpur in Ahmedabad, there is a growing demand for parking plots by societies and commercial complexes. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now According to AMC officials, over the past year, more than 50 plots were rented temporarily for parking. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) implemented a policy a year ago to rent over 1,500 reserved plots for various purposes, including parking, which led to an increase in demand. Initially, only playground plots were temporarily rented for vehicle parking, but the policy change resulted in increased demand. Applications for temporary parking plots increased in areas like Bodakdev, Gota, Thaltej, and Vejalpur. An official, speaking anonymously, said, "The AMC's policy to rent various purpose plots temporarily from the TP scheme is in effect. The AMC rents TP scheme plots for commercial, religious, social, parking, and other purposes temporarily for periods ranging from one day to a year or more. A policy is in place for temporarily rented plots, charging rent based on a percentage of the current jantri. The state govt implemented new jantri rates from April 15, 2023, doubling the previous rates. However, the AMC did not implement the new jantri rates for over a year, resulting in plots being rented based on the old jantri." On March 14, 2024, the standing committee decided to implement the new jantri rates for temporarily renting reserved plots in the TP scheme. The committee also decided to apply the new jantri rates to those renting plots temporarily from the AMC. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A 25% concession on the rent amount based on the new jantri rates was decided for temporary rentals. However, in the general meeting on June 28, 2024, a policy amendment was made to offer a 50% concession on the jantri rate for various purpose plots rented temporarily. According to the new policy, plots for every purpose in the city will now be rented temporarily for parking. Approximately 1,500 plots were made available for temporary parking rentals in the city. Previously, only plots for parking and playground purposes were rented for parking. In the standing committee meeting on July 17, a company named Synthesis Framework LLP was rented 852 square metres of land in Bodakdev for parking purposes for 11 months. A proposal was approved to rent 1,130 square metres of land on the Gujarat University campus for parking purposes. On July 3, the standing committee approved a proposal to rent a 1,470 square metre plot in Ghatlodia to Navratna Facility Management LLP for parking purposes for 11 months. Similarly on June 26, the standing committee approved renting 1,500 square metres of land in Tragad to Jeevan Jyot Charitable and Education Trust for playground and parking purposes for one year. The official said, "Currently, if any plot is rented temporarily for commercial purposes, the annual rent is charged at 7.50% of the current jantri. However, the AMC applied the old jantri, charging rent at 7.50% of the old jantri. With the implementation of the new jantri, rates doubled, leading to the decision to charge double the previous rent, with a 50% concession. For residential purposes, annual rent is charged at 4% of the jantri rate. For schools or educational purposes, the policy charges annual rent at 1% of the current jantri. Parking plots are now rented temporarily based on the old jantri, resulting in lower rent and increased applications for parking plot rentals over the past year."
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Now, 5% green cover must for new town planning schemes in Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is set to implement comprehensive greening measures that will transform the city's urban landscape, with CM Bhupendra Patel scheduled to unveil draft policies on July 19. Under the new 'Greening Policy Measures for a Greener Ahmedabad', all new town planning schemes must allocate 5% of total land for green cover. Of this allocation, 1% must be specifically reserved for urban forests using the Miyawaki method, which enables dense plantations in short timeframes. The policy builds upon existing state govt mandates. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad Previously, the state's Town Planning Act allowed a maximum of 5% land reservation for gardens and parks, but the new policy makes this allocation mandatory. Both the greening policy and the accompanying 'Policy for Good Construction Practices' will take effect on Friday. The AMC will establish an urban greening advisory committee comprising senior officers, urban planners, environmental experts, community leaders, NGO representatives and industry stakeholders including Credai members, builder associations, GIDC and educational institutions. They will provide necessary advice and suggestions to increase and maintain green cover in the city. Ward-level committees will address local implementation challenges, while public and private properties will be encouraged to participate in tree planting initiatives. Green infrastructure including oxygen parks, rain gardens, rooftop gardens, lake gardens, urban forests, ecological parks and biodiversity parks will be developed throughout the city. Penalties for illegal tree cutting will also increase. Anyone cutting a tree must plant 10 new trees within three years and submit a Rs 5,000 deposit per tree, with additional fines for environmental damage. New road development projects face specific requirements. Roads 24 metres or wider must include 1.50-metre-wide dividers for planting, with original soil preservation mandatory. Footpaths must include tree planting spaces every 5 metres, with circular tree pits measuring 1 metre for wider roads and 2.5x2.5-foot pits for narrower streets. The policy prohibits changing the designated purpose of plots reserved for gardens, urban forests or other green spaces in TP schemes, ensuring long-term protection of green infrastructure. City's first BRTS on-route charging station will also be inaugurated at the July 19 event. AMC's solid waste management department employees will be honoured for achieving first rank in the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25.
