Title: Height Restrictions Hold Up Major Hospital Projects in Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad: Hospital Projects Stuck Due to Height Limitations
In the past year, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has not approved any hospital building proposals exceeding 45 meters in height, due to a technical logjam. This is in line with the Gujarat Fire Safety CoP portal, which mandates fire safety approval for all building plans before construction can proceed. The portal’s 45-meter height restriction for hospitals directly contradicts the Gujarat government’s 2011 Hospital Policy, which allows healthcare facilities in major cities to reach up to 70 meters.
Developer Challenges:
Developers have approached the municipal corporation for resolution, stating that high-rise hospital projects can only move forward once a policy decision is made regarding the height restriction issue. The AMC official suggested that exceptional cases may receive approvals from fire authorities pending process modifications on the portal.
Current Status:
The tallest hospital in Ahmedabad is the civic-run SVP Hospital in Ellisbridge, standing at 69.84 meters with multiple basement levels and 17 floors. Among private facilities, Zydus Hospital on SG Road in Thaltej reaches 63.7 meters with 15 floors above ground level.
Policy Impact:
The 2011 Hospital Policy, which increased the floor space index (FSI) to encourage taller private hospital buildings, has yielded limited results over its 14-year implementation. Only seven hospitals — two government and five private — received approvals under this policy, with just six currently operational and one under construction.
Stakeholder Concerns:
Stakeholders argue that reducing the threshold to 3,000 square meters could encourage more hospitals, especially in urban areas where land is scarce. The AMC official suggested allowing chargeable FSI could further incentivize construction of much-needed medical infrastructure.
Conclusion:
The height restrictions are holding up multiple hospital projects, including expansions and plans to demolish outdated healthcare facilities to make way for modern high-rise structures. The AMC is working on process modifications to address these issues.
Published On May 12, 2025 at 03:23 PM IST
Category: Most Read Placement
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