Ahmedabad City as India's Best
City to live-in, in terms of infrastructure

Ahmedabad is a historical and industrial city of Gujarat. After acquiring the status of a mega city, its rate of growth and development has surprisingly increased.

The Amdavad Municipal Corporation or the AMC, established in July 1950 under the Bombay Provincial Corporation Act, 1949, is responsible for the civic infrastructure and administration of the city of Ahmedabad.

The local self government of the city, namely Amdavad Municipal Corporation, emerged as the first people's representative council or democratic body in India. Ahmedabad had set an example of an autonomous body administrating the city during the British rule for the first time. This institution was unique and rich with its diversity since its inception.

The fort of Ahmedabad was dilapidated from many places due to floods in the river. Hence, Mr. Bordel, the collector then convened a meeting of the citizens of the city and formed 'Town Wall Fund Committee' on 21st April, 1831 to collect the funds for repairing the wall. The formation of the committee sowed the seeds of the renovation of the city. The committee levied taxes at the rate of one percent on the sale of the commodities like ghee etc. Thus, a fund of two lakh rupees was raised and the committee took up the work of repairing the walls.

Sheth Ranchhodlal Chhotalal was nominated by the British Government as the first President of the municipality on 15th September, 1885. The Republic Municipality came into existence on 1st April, 1915 and Rao Bahadur Bhaishankar Nanabhai became the first elected president of the municipality. Ahmedabad Borough Municipality came into existence in 1925. The centenary of Ahmedabad Municipal was celebrated in 1935. In 1950, Amdavad Municipal Corporation came into existence and the designation of the Mayor was formed instead of President. The honor of being the last president and the first Mayor goes to Sheth Chinubhai Chimanlal. The central hall of Municipal Corporation was named as 'Gandhi Hall' and the administrative building of the corporation was named as 'Sardar Patel Bhavan'.

The Town Wall Fund Committee executed the activities of public welfare and other services since 1834, which are, in fact, regarded as the fundamental duties of the municipality. The committee had taken up the work of sprinkling water on the public roads and provided street lamps. All these facilities continued up to 1857.

When the municipality started functioning, the scheme of water work was implemented in 1885, for the supply of water to the citizens. It was inaugurated by Lord Harrison in 1891. In 1890, the first drainage system started in some parts of Khadia, covering 24 acres. On February 1915, three sets of 94 kv generating power were set up in Shahpur by Ahmedabad Electricity Company. The municipality installed 268 street lights in 1915. The first electricity supply was provided to the Big Ben tower at Bhadra Fort.

The municipality purchased Fire King machine from Merry Weather Company of England in 1907, for the fire brigade department. It was used till 1935. This machine is now exhibited at the Museum of Sanskar Kendra as the oldest fire fighting machine.

Morris Transport and Munshi bus service of Ahmedabad Bus Corporation (ABC) were used for local transport. The Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS) came into existence on 1st April, 1947. The credit goes to the Ahmedabad Municipality for starting the local bus service in the public sector, for the first time in the country.

Ellisbridge was the first bridge of the city built in 1892. Afterwards that, other bridges like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Bridge (1939), Mahatma Gandhi Bridge (1940), Jawaharlal Nehru Bridge (1952) and Subhash bridge (1973) were constructed.

Ahmedabad Municipality founded in 1873, which became a borough municipality in 1926. Ahmedabad Municipality was upgraded to Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation in 1950.

The Central Government declared this city as 'Mega city' in 2005. In 2006, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation included 17 other municipalities and 30 Gram Panchayats in its jurisdiction. Therefore, the total area of Municipal Corporation became 449.343 sq.kms. and its population reached up to 44,42,498. In 2008, the municipalities of Chandkheda and Motera were also included in the jurisdiction of the corporation. At present, the total area of the mega city is 464.16 sq. kms. and its population according to 2001 census is 45,05,539. Mega city Ahmedabad is progressing fast. We can see constructions and alterations everywhere. The construction of under passes and city ring road are taken up on war basis. The city has shine out with star hotels, multiplexes and shopping malls. It will certainly be the most happening city in near fututre.

"Vibrant, productive, harmonious, sustainable and environmental friendly, clean and livable city having a responsive local government offering its citizens a good quality of life"

Hardwork Self Reliance Service

The corporation is headed by a Municipal commissioner, an IAS officer appointed by the government of Gujarat. He wields the executive power of the house. For administrative purposes. the city is at present divided into 7 zones - Central, East, West, North, South, South West and North West. Each zone is further split into wards. There are at present total 48 wards. Each ward is represented by 4 corporators. An election is held to elect corporators to power after every 5 years. The mayor heads the party with the largest number of corporators elected.

As per the section 63 and 66 of the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation Act, the AMC is responsible for certain obligatory and discretionary services.

• Erection of boundary of city defining city limits.
• Watering, Scavenging and Cleansing of all public streets and places Sewage services
• Drainage services Fire services
• Health & Medical services
• Street Lighting services
• Maintenance of a monuments & open spaces Identification of streets & houses
• Regulation and abatement of offensive and dangerous trades or practices Maintenance of burial houses and funeral homes
• Construction or acquisition of public markets and slaughter houses Construction or acquisition of cattle-pounds
• Primary education services Health and hygiene services
• Construction, maintenance and alteration of bridges Water supply services
• Preventing and controlling the spread of dangerous diseases The securing or removal of unsafe buildings and places Construction of conservancy staff quarters
• Maintenance of relief works in scarcity, floe etc.

• Construction and maintenance of maternity homes & infant welfare houses Maintenance of central laboratories
• Swimming pool and other public health services Tree plantation on road sides
• Construction and maintenance of public parks and gardens The holding of exhibition, athletics or games
• The maintenance of an ambulance services
• Construction and maintenance of theaters, community halls and museums etc. Building or purchase of staff quarters
• Construction and maintenance of public transport facilities Construction and maintenance of educational institutes Construction and maintenance of infirmaries and hospitals The destruction of animals and birds causing a nuisance.
• Construction and maintenance of factory for the disposal of sewage
• The building or purchase and maintenance of suitable dwellings for the poor and working classes Provision of shelter to homeless persons and poor relief
• Surveys of buildings or lands
• Measures to meet any calamity affecting the public in the city any measure to promote public safety, health, convenience or instruction

Over the years, though AMC has faced growth challenges, it has overcome them effectively and provided urban services at a level significantly higher than the national averages, making it one of the top tier service providers in the country. Coverage levels in water supply, solid waste collection and sewerage are well above national norms.

The recent focus on city transportation, encroachment removal and cleanliness has been maintained with impressive improvements over the past. More roads have been resurfaced, more encroachments removed and more solid waste collected recently than in any comparable period in the past.

AMC's service delivery is matched by its high quality of governance, which has set benchmarks for other municipal corporations in the country. AMC has undertaken several novel initiatives, including:

• Issuing municipal bonds: AMC was the first municipality in Asia to have accessed the capital markets, and enjoys a high credit rating (AA+ by CARE). This has been made possible by AMC's sound financial management, which has resulted in a healthy revenue surplus in recent years.
• Implementing property tax reforms: Ahmedabad was the first large city in India to have implemented property tax reforms, and set as zero litigation record. CRISIL recognized this as the best urban practice in financial management and extended the CRISIL Award for Excellence in Municipal Initiatives to AMC in 2004.Setting benchmarks in the areas of e-governance, slum improvement and other urban management areas.
• Environmental improvement: The civic centers of Ahmedabad are a model of governance, which has greatly benefitted citizens. Not surprisingly, these models are being adopted by several other cities.
• Implementing the public private partnership model in municipal transport: This noble step, involving 220 environment- friendly CNG buses, led to 33 per cent reduction in AMC's operating costs. AMC intends to procure 180 more such CNG buses.