For the last couple of years there had been murmurs about redeveloping the Sabarmati Ashram, founded by Mahatma Gandhi on the banks of river Sabarmati in Ahmedabad. It is official now and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is visiting his home state Gujarat on March 12, is likely to share his vision on this as he launches celebrations of India’s 75 years of Independence.
Modi will flag off a 21-day march from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi in Navsari district of Gujarat to mark the anniversary of the historic Salt March.
Ahead of the prime minister’s visit, the Gujarat government has set up two high-powered committees. One committee will be headed by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani while the second panel will be led by K. Kailashnathan, chief principal secretary to the CM.
The committees will have representation of high-level bureaucrats and persons from Sabarmati Preservation and Memorial Trust, Sabarmati Ashram Gaushala and Khadi Udyog among others.
According to sources, the estimated cost of the project is Rs 1,200 crore. The plan was prepared by Ahmedabad-based HCP Design, Planning and Management Private Limited headed by architect Bimal Patel. He is also the architect behind the Central Vista Project in New Delhi.
A source in the know of the developments said that the whole idea is to make the place “world class” and see that more area of the Ashram premises is available for the public.
Sources said that those occupying some space of Sabarmati Ashram like Sabarmati Gaushala have agreed to hand over the place. However, some residents in the area have insisted that they would not move out. Sources said that they would be given an option of buying a property somewhere else and if they do not want to move out, then the place would be kept in the new plan.
With the Gujarat government having issued a GR, things have formalized.
Kartikeya Sarabhai, who heads the Sabarmati Preservation and Memorial Trust, told THE WEEK that the PM will flag off the Dandi Yatra on March 12. The Gujarat government has also earmarked the amount in this year’s annual budget, he added.
The plan, however, is likely to face criticism from Gandhians. Gandhi’s great grandson Tushar Gandhi has been on record to state that the government is now doing what was already decided a couple of years ago.
He took to social media and said: “Bapu did the Dandi Kooch to fight against the plight of salt of the earth, the poor and downtrodden of India not as a political show of strength as planned by Pradhan Sevak Shree who for more than hundred days has ignored the pleas of the farmers. Dandi Kooch of Opportunities.” (sic)
