Only 99 heritage TDRs issued in a decade

Ahmedabad: For a city that takes pride in its heritage structures, the transferable development rights (TDR) scheme is doing little to prop up conservation efforts. Till the start of April 2025, TDRs issued for heritage conservation stood at 99. These house owners collectively received TDR FSI (floor space index) of 13,518.47, out of which 5,621.64, or 41%, was utilised or transferred. Given that there are more than 2,200 structures — assigned Grades I, II, and III — in the Walled City, the scheme has so far attracted owners of less than 5% of such buildings.There is, however, a glimmer of hope. With the efforts of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and other stakeholders, the year 2024 saw the issuance of TDR for 20 heritage structures, the second-highest after 24 TDRs issued in 2022. Out of the 99 TDRs issued so far, 66, or two-thirds, have been issued since Jan 2022. This year, five TDRs have been issued so far, according to AMC data.Experts say that the initiative, which saw the first TDR issued in 2015, has taken a long time to gain traction. The initiative was launched to help heritage house owners carry out conservation and restorations to ensure that the famed Walled City area retains its old-world charm. On the other hand, developers can use it as additional FSI in designated zones.Multiple studies carried out by students from Nirma University's M Arch programme, under the guidance of Prof Utpal Sharma and other heritage conservation experts, explored themes such as heritage conservation, urban mobility, public space revitalisation, decarbonisation, and climate-responsive design. One of the studies focused on land-use strategies.Pooja Raval, assistant professor at Nirma University, said that only a fraction of eligible pol houses have availed of the TDR scheme so far. "Many structures remain in a state of decay, with residents unable to afford repairs or restorations due to rising material costs, lengthy procedures, and the absence of functional financial mechanisms. In some cases, entire blocks are being vacated, sold off, or replaced with incongruent new constructions, leading to the erosion of the city's historic core," said Prof Raval. "TDR as a concept is robust, and the need of the hour is its effective implementation to save the heart of Ahmedabad for posterity."