Ahmedabad: Two years after Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Ltd (SRFDCL) approved a tender to establish an Imagica ‘Entertainment Hub’ on the riverfront’s east bank, the project remains stalled over pending construction plan approvals and regulatory queries. A crucial meeting between top SRFDCL officials and representatives of Imagica World Entertainment Pvt Ltd is scheduled for Aug 17 to decide the ultimate fate of the project.SRFDCL had approved a single tender from Imagica World Entertainment on March 6, 2024, allocating 45,600 sq m of land valued at Rs 1,150 crore for an annual lease rent of Rs 45.6 lakh.Under the agreement, the company was to invest Rs 130 crore in setting up the hub, while SRFDCL would receive a 12.25% revenue share. The board had also granted a seven-year property tax exemption and allowed joint ventures with foreign firms. A letter of award (LOA) was issued on March 7, 2024, and land possession was handed over.However, the project ran into hurdles shortly after, following the Rajkot Game Zone fire tragedy, which led the state govt to enforce stricter gaming zone norms. To comply, the project footprint had to be revised to include mandatory road margins, a 1,000-m exit clearance near the Atal Bridge, and 50% reserved space for parking.To accommodate these changes, the allocated land plot was increased to 50,283 sq m, requiring 25,150 sq m dedicated to parking. Imagica proposed executing the project in two phases — 33,000 sq m in Phase 1 and 17,283 sq m in Phase 2 — with additional parking to be supplemented via a multi-level facility near Gujri Bazaar at an annual rent. The AMC standing committee approved these modifications on Sep 18, 2025.Progress was further delayed by an administrative dispute over whether the land should be classified as ‘old tenure’ or ‘new tenure’. The issue was resolved in March this year after the district collector declared the riverfront plots designated for sale and entertainment as ‘old tenure’.Despite these clearances, construction plans remain pending. Civic officials stated that if the Aug 17 meeting yields a positive outcome, the building plan approval process will finally be initiated to push the project forward.
