In Ahmedabad’s affluent western suburbs, a renewed contention is emerging over the future of playground spaces. Prakash School in Bodakdev has once again advocated for a 4,521 square metre plot, seeking a “permanent lease for 99 years” at a nominal rent. This proposal is scheduled to be reviewed by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s (AMC) standing committee on Thursday, potentially setting a significant precedent for the city’s management of public spaces.
The school’s renewed request follows a previous rejection of a similar plea last year. Prakash School is not alone in its pursuit; several other institutions, including JG International School, have made comparable demands for plots designated as playgrounds by the AMC. Historically, prior to 2007, the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) had sold land to 14 schools, allowing them to construct their buildings. Alongside these constructions, AUDA had also leased adjacent plots reserved for playgrounds in areas such as Bodakdev, Vejalpur, Thaltej, Ghatlodia, and Memnagar to these schools.
The initial lease agreements mandated that these playgrounds be used solely for school sports and remain accessible to local children during non-school hours. The AMC currently charges an annual rent based on the jantri rate from these schools. However, on April 20 of last year, after seeking legal advice, the standing committee rejected Prakash School’s proposal for a 99-year lease at a nominal fee for the playground plot in Bodakdev’s TP Scheme 1/B. Similar requests from JG International School in Thaltej were also turned down by the municipal commissioner.
The issue dates back to 2007 when the western suburbs were incorporated into the AMC’s jurisdiction from AUDA. Since then, the AMC has been responsible for these playgrounds. Complaints about restricted access led to a high court ruling requiring these spaces to be open to the public. Given the increase in jantri rates, the market value of these playgrounds now runs into hundreds of crores. The Gujarat Town Planning Act explicitly prohibits the sale or permanent allocation of plots reserved for playgrounds. Despite this, proposals for permanent allocation continue to surface. The standing committee is expected to forward the latest proposal to the state government for further consideration.
