Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority can now allow development in agri zone at Gokuldham

Ahmedabad: Twelve years after the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (Auda) approved the Gokuldham township's layout, the authority's chairman has been granted the power to issue development and revised development permissions for the agricultural land in the township. A dispute arose about the township in April 2014, leading to the suspension of development and revised development permissions. The township spans more than 10 lakh square metres in Sanand taluka, adjacent to Ahmedabad city. On Oct 8, 2002, the Auda approved the comprehensive layout plan for Gokuldham. According to the General Development Control Regulations provisions of the time, the Auda approved the comprehensive layout plan for Gokuldham, covering more than 50 hectares of land. Under Residential Zone 2, an FSI of 1.2, building height up to 10 metres, and ground coverage up to 45% were deemed permissible. On Oct 16, 2006, the amalgamation and sub-plotting were approved for 8.1 lakh square metres of the township land. That comprised Residential Zone 2 area of 6.2 lakh square metres and agricultural zone area of 1.9 lakh square metres. On Sep 20, 2008, development permission was granted for 1,265 residential units. On March 24, 2011, an additional 1.8 lakh square metres of land in the agriculture zone was integrated with the previously laid-out land. Thus, approval was sought from Auda for the revised development permissions of a total of 10.1 lakh square metres of land. On June 10, 2011, Auda granted revised development permission for 3,380 units across 25 sectors for the 10.1 lakh square metres of land. Following the dispute, the Auda sought guidance from the state's additional chief secretary through letters dated Aug 1, 2014, and Aug 25, 2014. Based on the advocate general's opinion, the proposal to delegate authority to Auda's chairman for granting development and revised development permissions for the agricultural land in the township was recently approved.