Motera neighbourhood gets overdue face-lift
nAHMEDABAD: Residents living in and around Motera stadium are probably thanking US President Donald Trump for the much-needed face-lift the civic infrastructure in their neighbourhoods have received. Several state government agencies, including Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), have been involved in the face-lift, which has been ongoing for the past few weeks.
Besides Motera, Bhat and Koteshwar too have benefited from the effort which comes ahead of the US President’s first visit to India. He will address a public event, Namaste Trump, at Motera on February 24.
Sunil Das, a resident of Sampad Residency on Koteshwar Road near the stadium, said Trump’s visit augurs well for residents of his neighbourhood. AMC and AUDA have been apathetic to their pleas for a beautification drive all these years, he said.
“We fought for basic amenities like streetlights and roads for years but the authorities cited a fund crunch for the state of affairs. Then, we took it upon ourselves to plant neem saplings and urged the AMC to provide security guards, but that too was rebuffed. Now, overnight the authorities have planted palm trees and repaired broken roads. How can the same authorities spend ~80 crore in prepping for a visiting head of state and overlook residents’ needs?” asked Das, an IT professional with a financial services firm.
Lalit Shah, a shopkeeper on Koteshwar Road, hoped the US president would visit other parts of the city that could do with a “much-needed upgrade in civic amenities”. A stretch of the Koteshwarbhat Road is one of 16 roads being worked on ahead of the visit. According to the Gujarat government, around ~45 crore is being spent on road and repair work and another ~6-8 crore on the beautification drive.
The controversy over the 600-metre long, four-feet high wall to keep the Sarania Vaas slums located seven kilometres from Bhat-motera road out of Trump’s sight isn’t dying down. AMC commissioner Vijay Nehra, however, said the decision to construct the wall slum and Trump’s visit are not connected.
Elsewhere, barricades covered with cloth have been erected.
Brothers-in-law, Manga bhai and Dhanshuk bhai Devipujak, who live in shanties on the Bhat-motera road are a worried lot. “We have been told by the authorities that a green cloth will be put up to block our shanties’ view. But, who knows? We could still be evicted,” said Manga bhai.