Ahmedabad: The Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Ltd (SRFDCL) has decided to cancel the design plan to interlink the basements of upcoming buildings via tunnels on plots designated for sale on the western bank of the riverfront.Initially, when the SRFDCL prepared a design to link the basements, development rights for a plot in the Vallabh Sadan “Value Zone” on the western bank were sold. However, for over a year, construction plans for the new building remained stalled due to the complexities of the tunnel design intended to interlink the basements. Consequently, in a recent board meeting, the SRFDCL officially decided to scrap the interlinking project. An SRFDCL official stated that Requests for Proposals (RFPs) were issued on Sep 13, 2024, to sell development rights for two plots — one near Vallabh Sadan on the west bank and another near the Lemon Tree Hotel on the east bank. The 4,420 sq m plot near Vallabh Sadan has 60,050 sq m of permissible construction area. The base price was set at Rs 23,676 per sq m. A Mumbai-based real estate firm emerged as the highest bidder at Rs 26,000 per sq m. As for the plot on the eastern bank, it is a 3,045 sq m tract with 41,385 sq m of construction area. The base price was Rs 20,833 per sq m. Since only a single bid was received, the corporation decided to restart the auction process for this plot. In Oct 2024, the SRFDCL approved the Rs 156 crore bid for the Vallabh Sadan plot. The plan includes a 66-metre-high mixed-use commercial building featuring upscale offices, co-working spaces, restaurants, retail stores, lounges, and food courts. The winning bidder is required to complete construction within four years of receiving the letter of award. The construction confusion stemmed from the basement interlinking design. An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, explained, “In the meeting held on March 9, 2026, it was decided to cancel the tunnel design.” The official said, “The Vallabh Sadan plot is located near the Metro bridge. So, an NOC from the Metro Rail authorities would have been required to build the tunnel.” The interlinking requirement has been scrapped to avoid further delays, the official said. In July 2024, the state govt approved the Sabarmati Riverfront Land Disposal Policy. Under this policy, 17 plots (totalling 1.49 lakh sq m) across 7 “Value Zones” are slated for sale. For the first time, SRFDCL permitted exclusive commercial mixed-use on a single plot.
