Ahmedabad has emerged as an important economic and industrial hub in India. It is the second-largest producer ofcotton in India, due to which it was known as the 'Manchester of India' along withKanpur.Ahmedabad Stock Exchange (before it was shut down in 2018) was the country's second-oldest.Cricket is a popular sport in Ahmedabad; the newly builtNarendra Modi Stadium atMotera can accommodate 132,000 spectators, making it thelargest stadium in the world. The plannedSardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave will be one of the biggest sports centres (Sports City) in India once complete.
The effects of theliberalisation of the Indian economy have energised the city's economy towardstertiary sector activities such as commerce, communication and construction.[18] Ahmedabad's increasing population has increased demand in the construction and housing industries, resulting in the development of skyscrapers.[19]
In 2010, Ahmedabad was ranked third inForbes's list of fastest growing cities of the decade.[20] In 2012,The Times of India chose Ahmedabad as India's best city to live in.[21] The gross domestic product of Ahmedabad metro was estimated at $136.1 billion in 2023.[12][22] In 2020, Ahmedabad was ranked as the third-best city in India to live by the Ease of Living Index.[23] In July 2022,Time magazine included Ahmedabad in its list of world's 50 greatest places of 2022.[24]
Based on relics found in several neighbourhoods of the old city and on writings of the Persian historianal-Biruni, it is surmised that an earlyBhil tribal group settlement was known asAshaval.[27][28]
According toMerutunga,Karna, theChaulukya (Solanki) ruler of Anhilvada (modernPatan), successfully launched a military campaign against Ashaval and founded a city nearby called Karnavati.[27] The location of Karnavati is not definitively known.[28] References from the 14th and 15th centuries mention Ashaval but do not mention Karnavati.[28]
Ahmad Shah I of theGujarat Sultanate transferred its capital from Anhilvada to Ashaval in 1411 CE; as was customary, the city was subsequently renamed Ahmedabad after the Sultan.[29]
The area around Ahmedabad has been inhabited since the 11th century, when it was known asAshaval.[30] At that time,Karna, theChaulukya (Solanki) ruler of Anhilwara (modernPatan), waged a successful war against theBhil king of Ashaval,[31] and established a city calledKarnavati on the banks of the Sabarmati.[32] Solanki rule lasted until the 13th century, when Gujarat came under the control of theVaghela dynasty ofDholka. Gujarat subsequently came under the control of theDelhi Sultanate in the 14th century. However, by the earlier 15th century, the local Muslim governor Zafar Khan Muzaffar established his independence from the Delhi Sultanate and crowned himselfSultan of Gujarat asMuzaffar Shah I, thereby founding theMuzaffarid dynasty.[33][34][35] In 1411, the area came under the control of his grandson, SultanAhmed Shah, who selected the forested area along the banks of the Sabarmati river for his new capital. He laid the foundation of a new walled city near Karnavati and named it Ahmedabad after himself.[36][37] According to other versions, he named the city after four Muslim saints in the area who all had the name Ahmed.[38] Ahmed Shah I laid the foundation of the city on 26 February 1411[39] (at 1.20 pm, Thursday, the second day ofDhu al-Qi'dah,Hijri year 813[40]) atManek Burj. Manek Burj is named after the legendary 15th-century Hindu saint,Maneknath, who intervened to helpAhmed Shah I buildBhadra Fort in 1411.[36][41][42][43] Ahmed Shah I chose it as the new capital on 4 March 1411.[44] Chandan and Rajesh Nath, 13th generation descendants of Saint Maneknath, performpuja and hoist the flag on Manek Burj on Ahmedabad's foundation day and for theVijayadashami festival every year.[36][42][45][46]
City walls of Ahmedabad, 1866
In 1487,Mahmud Begada, the grandson of Ahmed Shah, fortified the city with an outer wall 10 km (6.2 mi) in circumference and consisting oftwelve gates, 189 bastions, and over 6,000 battlements.[47] In 1535Humayun briefly occupied Ahmedabad after capturingChampaner when the ruler of Gujarat,Bahadur Shah, fled toDiu.[48] Ahmedabad was then reoccupied by the Muzaffarid dynasty until 1573 when Gujarat was conquered by theMughal emperorAkbar. During the Mughal reign, Ahmedabad became one of the Empire's thriving centres of trade, mainly in textiles, which were exported as far as Europe. The Mughal rulerShah Jahan spent the prime of his life in the city, sponsoring the construction of theMoti Shahi Mahal inShahibaug. TheDeccan Famine of 1630–32 affected the city, as did famines in 1650 and 1686.[49] Ahmedabad remained the provincial headquarters of the Mughals until 1758, when they surrendered the city to theMarathas.[50]
During the period of Maratha governance, the city became the centre of a conflict between thePeshwa ofPoona and theGaekwad ofBaroda.[51] In 1780, during theFirst Anglo-Maratha War, a British force underJames Hartley stormed and captured Ahmedabad, but it was handed back to the Marathas at the end of the war. TheBritish East India Company took over the city in 1818 during theThird Anglo-Maratha War.[38] A military cantonment was established in 1824 and a municipal government in 1858.[38] Incorporated into theBombay Presidency duringBritish rule, Ahmedabad became one of the most important cities in the Gujarat region. In 1864, a railway link between Ahmedabad andMumbai (then Bombay) was established by theBombay, Baroda, and Central India Railway (BB&CI), enabling traffic and trade betweennorthern andsouthern India via the city.[38] Over time, the city established itself as the home of a developing textile industry, which earned it the nickname "Manchester of the East".[52]
Ahmedabad and its environs, ca 1914
TheIndian independence movement developed roots in the city whenMahatma Gandhi established twoashrams – theKochrab Ashram nearPaldi in 1915 and the Satyagraha Ashram (nowSabarmati Ashram) on the banks of the Sabarmati in 1917 – which would become centres of nationalist activities.[38][53] During themass protests against theRowlatt Act in 1919, textile workers burned down 51 government buildings across the city in protest at a British attempt to extend wartime regulations after theFirst World War. In the 1920s, textile workers and teachers went on strike, demanding civil rights and better pay and working conditions. In 1930, Gandhi initiated theSalt Satyagraha from Ahmedabad by embarking from his ashram on theDandi Salt March. The city's administration and economic institutions were rendered inoperative in the early 1930s by the large numbers of people who took to the streets in peaceful protests, and again in 1942 during theQuit India Movement.
Following independence and thepartition of India in 1947, the city was scarred by the intense communal violence that broke out betweenHindus andMuslims in 1947. Ahmedabad was the focus of settlement by Hindu migrants from Pakistan,[54] who expanded the city's population and transformed its demographics and economy.
By 1960, Ahmedabad had become a metropolis with a population of slightly under half a million people, with classical and colonial European-style buildings lining the city's thoroughfares.[55] It was chosen as the capital of Gujarat after the partition of theState of Bombay on 1 May 1960.[56] During this period, a large number of educational and research institutions were founded in the city, making it a centre forhigher education, science, and technology.[57] Ahmedabad's economic base became more diverse with the establishment of heavy and chemical industry during the same period. Many countries sought to emulate India's economic planning strategy and one of them,South Korea, copied Ahmedabad's second "Five-Year Plan".[58] Post independence Ahmedabad has seen development in manufacturing and infrastructure.[59][60]
In the late 1970s, the capital shifted to the newly built city ofGandhinagar. This marked the start of a long period of decline in Ahmedabad, marked by a lack of development. The 1974Navnirman agitation, a protest against a 20% hike in the hostel food fees at theL.D. College of Engineering in Ahmedabad, snowballed into a movement to removeChimanbhai Patel, then chief minister of Gujarat.[61] In the 1980s, areservation policy was introduced in the country, which led to anti-reservation protests in 1981 and 1985. The protests witnessed violent clashes between people belonging to variouscastes.[62] The city was considerably impacted by the2001 Gujarat earthquake; up to 50 multi-storey buildings collapsed, killing 752 people and causing much damage.[63] The following year, three days of violence between Hindus and Muslims in the western Indian state of Gujarat, known as the2002 Gujarat riots, spread to Ahmedabad; in easternChamanpura, 69 people were killed in theGulbarg Society massacre on 28 February 2002.[64] Refugee camps were set up around the city, housing 50,000 Muslims, as well as some small Hindu camps.[65]
The estimated population of Ahmedabad city is 7,692,000, while that of the urban agglomeration area is 8,772,000 as of 2023.[71] The2021 census of India has been delayed to 2024-25, and the deadline to freeze administrative boundaries has been extended to 1 January 2024.[75]
In the mid-1970s and early 1980s, the textile mills that were responsible for much of Ahmedabad's wealth faced competition from automation and domestic speciality looms. Several mills closed down, leaving between 40,000 and 50,000 people without a source of income, and many moved into informal settlements in the city centre. TheAhmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), the governing and administrative body of the city, simultaneously lost much of its tax base and saw an increased demand for services. In the 1990s, newly emerging pharmaceutical, chemical, and automobile manufacturing industries required skilled labour, so many migrants seeking work ended up in the informal sector and settled in slums.[76]
Ahmedabad has made efforts to reduce poverty and improve the living conditions of poor residents. The urban poverty rate has declined from 28% in 1993–1994 to 10% in 2011–2012.[76] This is partly due to the strengthening of the AMC and its partnership with several civil society organisations (CSOs) representing poor residents. Through projects and programs, the AMC has provided utilities and basic services to slums. However, some challenges remain, and there are still many residents who lack access to sanitation, clean running water, and electricity. Riots, often rooted in religious tensions, threaten the stability of neighbourhoods and have caused spatial segregation across religious and caste lines. There remains to be seen a concerted effort to balance pro-poor, inclusive development with national initiatives that aim to create 'global cities' that are the focus of capital investment and technological innovation.
As of 2011, about 66% of the population lives in formal housing, with the other 34% living in slums orchawls, which are tenements for industrial workers. There are approximately 700 slum settlements in Ahmedabad, and 11% of the total housing stock is public housing. The population of Ahmedabad has increased while the housing stock has remained generally constant, and this has led to a rise in the density of both formal and informal housing and a more economical usage of existing space. The Indian census estimates that the Ahmedabad slum population was 25.6% of the total population in 1991 and had decreased to 4.5% in 2011, but these numbers are contested, and local entities maintain that the census underestimates informal populations. There is a consensus that there has been a reduction in the percentage of the population that lives in slum settlements, and that there has also been a general improvement in living conditions for slum residents.[76][needs update?]
Photograph of slum neighborhood in Ahmedabad, 1979.
In the 1990s, the AMC faced increased slum populations. They found that residents were willing and able to pay for legal connections to water, sewage, and electricity, but because of tenure issues, they were paying higher prices for low-quality, informal connections. To address this, beginning in 1995, the AMC partnered with civil society organisations to create the Slum Networking Project (SNP) to improve basic services in 60 slums, benefitting approximately 13,000 households.[76] This project, also known asParivartan (Change), involvedparticipatory planning in which slum residents were partners alongsideAMC, private institutions, microfinance lenders, and local NGOs. The goal of the program was to provide both physical infrastructure (including water supply, sewers, individual toilets, paved roads, storm drainage, and tree planting) and community development (i.e. the formation of resident associations, women's groups, community health interventions, and vocational training).[77] In addition, participating households were granted a minimum de facto tenure of ten years. The project cost a total of₹4,350 million. Community members and the private sector each contributed₹600 million, NGOs provided₹90 million, and the AMC paid for the rest of the project.[77] Each slum household was responsible for no more than 12% of the cost of upgrading their home.[76]
This project has generally been regarded as a success. Having access to basic services increased the residents' working hours, since most work out of their homes. It also reduced the incidence of illness, particularly water-borne illness, and increased children's rates of school attendance.[78] The SNP received the 2006UNHABITAT Dubai International Award for Best Practice to Improve the Living Environment.[79] However, concerns remain about the community's responsibility and capacity for the maintenance of the new infrastructure. Additionally, trust was weakened when the AMC demolished two of the slums that were upgraded as part of SNP to create recreational parks.[76]
According to the 2011 census,Hindus are the predominant religious community in the city, comprising 81.56% of the population, followed byMuslims (13.51%),Jains (3.62%), Christians (0.85%) andSikhs (0.24%).[80]Buddhists, people following other religions and those who did not state any religion make up the remainder.
Most of the residents of Ahmedabad are nativeGujaratis, but there is a large population with origins outside the state who speak a variety of languages, mainly Hindi and Urdu (among Muslims). There is a Sindhi community dating from Partition, and a Marathi community dating back to Maratha rule over Gujarat. The city is home to some 2,000Parsis (Zoroastrians),[86] and some 125 members of theBene IsraelJewish community.[87] There is also one synagogue in the city.[88]
Languages of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (2011)[89]
Ahmedabad lies inwestern India at 53 metres (174 feet) above sea level on the banks of theSabarmati river, in north-central Gujarat. It covers an area of 505 km2 (195 sq mi).[90][91][92][93] The Sabarmati frequently dried up in the summer, leaving only a small stream of water, and the city is in a sandy and dry area. However, with the execution of theSabarmati River Front Project and Embankment, the waters from theNarmada river have been diverted to the Sabarmati to keep the river flowing throughout the year, thereby eliminating Ahmedabad's water problems. The steady expansion of theRann of Kutch threatened to increase desertification around the city area and much of the state; however, the Narmada Canal network is expected to alleviate this problem. Except for the small hills ofThaltej-Jodhpur Tekra, the city is almost flat. Three lakes lie within the city's limits—Kankaria,Vastrapur and Chandola. Kankaria, in the neighbourhood ofManinagar, is an artificial lake developed by the Sultan of Gujarat, Qutb-ud-din, in 1451.[94]
Ahmedabad is divided by the Sabarmati into two physically distinct eastern and western regions. The eastern bank of the river houses the old city, which includes the central town ofBhadra. This part of Ahmedabad is characterised by packedbazaars, thepol system of closely clustered buildings, and numerous places of worship.[96] A pol (pronounced as pole) is a housing cluster which comprises many families of a particular group, linked bycaste,profession, or religion.[97][98]This is a list of pols in theold walled city[97] of Ahmedabad inGujarat, India. Heritage of these pols[99] has helped Ahmedabad gain a place inUNESCO's Tentative Lists, inselection criteria II, III and IV.[100] The secretary-general of EuroIndia Centre quoted that if 12,000homes of Ahmedabad are restored they could be very helpful in promoting heritage tourism and its allied businesses.[101] TheArt Reverie inMoto Sutharvado isRes Artis center. The first pol in Ahmedabad was namedMahurat Pol.[102] The old city also houses the main railway station, the main post office, and some buildings of the Muzaffarid and British eras. The colonial period saw the expansion of the city to the western side of the Sabarmati river, facilitated by the construction ofEllis Bridge in 1875 (and later the modernNehru Bridge). The western part of the city houses educational institutions, modern buildings, residential areas, shopping malls, multiplexes and new business districts centred around roads such asAshram Road,C. G. Road, andSarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway.[103]
There are nine bridges on the river Sabarmati that connect the eastern and western regions.
TheSabarmati Riverfront is a waterfront area being developed along the banks of the Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad, India. Proposed in the 1960s, its construction began in 2005, and it opened in 2012.[104]
Ahmedabad has ahot semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification:BSh), with marginally less rain than required for atropical savanna climate. There are three main seasons: summer, monsoon, and winter. Aside from the monsoon season, the climate is extremely dry. The weather is hot from March to June; the average summer maximum is 43 °C (109 °F), and the average minimum is 24 °C (75 °F). From November to February, the average maximum temperature is 30 °C (86 °F), and the average minimum is 13 °C (55 °F). Cold winds from the north are responsible for a mild chill in January. The southwest monsoon brings a humid climate from mid-June to mid-September. The average annual rainfall is about 800 millimetres (31 in), but infrequent heavy torrential rains cause local rivers to flood, and it is not uncommon for droughts to occur when the monsoon does not extend as far west as usual. The highest temperature in the city was recorded on 20 May 2016, with it reaching 48 °C (118 °F).[105]
Source 2: NOAA (sun 1971–1990),[111] IEM ASOS (May record high)[112] Tokyo Climate Center (mean temperatures 1991–2020);[113] Weather Atlas[114][115]
Following aheat wave in May 2010, which reached 46.8 °C (116.2 °F) and claimed hundreds of lives,[116] theAhmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), in partnership with an international coalition of health and academic groups and with support from theClimate & Development Knowledge Network, developed the Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan.[117] Aimed at increasing awareness, sharing information and coordinating responses to reduce the health effects of heat on vulnerable populations, the action plan is the first comprehensive plan in Asia to address the threat of adverse heat on health.[118] It also focuses on community participation, building public awareness of the risks ofextreme heat, training medical and community workers to respond to and help prevent heat-related illnesses, and coordinating an interagency emergency response effort when heat waves hit.[119]
Ahmedabad has been ranked 7th best “National Clean Air City” (under Category 1 >10L Population cities) in India according to 'Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2024 Results'[120]
Early in Ahmedabad's history, underAhmed Shah, builders fused Hindu craftsmanship withPersian architecture, giving rise to theIndo-Saracenic style.[121] Many mosques in the city were built in this fashion.[121]Sidi Saiyyed Mosque was built in the last year of the Sultanate of Gujarat. It is entirely arched and has ten stone latticework windows orjali on the side and rear arches. Private mansions orhaveli from this era have carvings.[97] Apol is a typical housing cluster ofOld Ahmedabad.
Some of the most visited gardens in the city includeLaw Garden, Victoria Garden, and Bal Vatika. Law Garden was named after the College of Law located nearby. Victoria Garden is located at the southern edge of the Bhadra Fort and contains a statue ofQueen Victoria. Bal Vatika is a children's park situated on the grounds ofKankaria Lake and houses an amusement park. Other gardens in the city includeParimal Garden, Usmanpura Garden, Prahlad Nagar Garden, and Lal Darwaja Garden.[129] Ahmedabad's Kamla Nehru Zoological Park houses a number of endangered species including flamingoes,caracals,Asiatic wolves, andchinkara.[130]
TheKankaria Lake, built in 1451 CE, is one of the biggest lakes in Ahmedabad.[131] In earlier days, it was known by the nameQutub Hoj orHauj-e-Kutub.[132] Lal Bahadur Shastri lake in Bapunagar is almost 136,000 square metres. In 2010, another 34 lakes were planned in and around Ahmedabad of which five lakes will be developed by AMC; the other 29 will be developed by theAhmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA).[133]Vastrapur Lake is a small artificial lake located in the western part of Ahmedabad. Beautified by local authorities in 2002, it is surrounded by greenery and paved walkways and has become a popular leisure spot for the citizens.[134]Chandola Lake covers an area of 1200 hectares. It is home tocormorants,painted storks, andspoonbills.[135] During the evening, many people visit this place and take a stroll.[136] There is a recently developed lake inNaroda,[137] and there is also the world's largest collection of antique cars in Kathwada at IB farm (Dastan Farm).[138] AMC has also developed theSabarmati Riverfront.[139]
Looking at the health of traffic police staff deployed near the Pirana dump site, theAhmedabad City Police is going to install outdoorair purifiers at traffic points so that the deployed staff can breathe fresh air.[140]
Ahmedabad is the administrative headquarters ofAhmedabad district and is administered by theAhmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). The AMC was established in July 1950 under the Bombay Provincial Corporation Act of 1949. The AMC commissioner is anIndian Administrative Service (IAS) officer appointed by thestate government who reserves the administrative executive powers, whereas the corporation is headed by themayor of Ahmedabad. The city residents elect the 192municipal councillors by popular vote, and the elected councillors select the deputy mayor and mayor of the city. The mayor, Bijal Patel, was appointed on 14 June 2018.[141] The administrative responsibilities of the AMC are water and sewerage services, primary education, health services, fire services, public transport and the city's infrastructure.[93] AMC was ranked 9th out of 21 cities for "the best governance & administrative practices in India in 2014. It scored 3.4 out of 10 compared to the national average of 3.3."[142] Ahmedabad registers two accidents per hour.[143]
Electricity is generated and distributed byTorrent Power Limited, which is owned and operated by the Ahmedabad Electricity Company (a previously state-run corporation).[148] Ahmedabad is one of the few cities in India where the power sector is privatised.[149]
Ahmedabad is known for its rich architecture, traditional housing designs, community-oriented settlement patterns, urban structure, as well as its unique crafts and mercantile culture.[150] The people of Ahmedabad celebrate a vast range of festivals. Celebrations and observances includeUttarayan, a harvest festival which involves kite-flying on 14 and 15 January. The nine nights ofNavratri are celebrated with people performingGarba, the most popular folk dance of Gujarat, at venues across the city. The annualRath Yatra procession takes place on theAshadh-sud-bij date of theHindu calendar at theJagannath Temple. Festivals like Diwali, Holi, Christmas, and Muharram (pan-Indian festivals) are also celebrated.[151][152]
One of the most popular dishes in Ahmedabad is the Gujaratithali, which was first served commercially by Chandvilas Hotel in 1900.[153] It consists ofroti (chapati),dal, rice, andshaak (cooked vegetables, sometimes withcurry), with accompaniments ofpickles and roastedpapads. Sweet dishes includeladdoo,mango, andvedhmi.Dhoklas,theplas, anddhebras are other popularly consumed dishes in Ahmedabad.[154] Beverages includebuttermilk and tea. Drinking alcohol is legally banned in Ahmedabad, as Gujarat is a 'dry' state.[155]
Many restaurants serve Indian and international cuisines. Most of the food outlets serve only vegetarian food, as there exists a strong tradition of vegetarianism that has been maintained by the city's Jain and Hindu communities for centuries.[156] The first all-vegetarianPizza Hut in the world opened in Ahmedabad.[157] KFC has a separate staff uniform for serving vegetarian items and prepares vegetarian food in a separate kitchen,[158][159] as does McDonald's.[160][161] Ahmedabad has a number of restaurants serving typicalMughlai non-vegetarian food in older areas like Bhatiyar Gali,Kalupur and Jamalpur.[162]Manek Chowk is an open square near the centre of the city that functions as a vegetable market in the morning and a jewellery market in the afternoon. However, it is best known for becoming a vast congregation of food stalls in the evening, which sell localstreet food. It is named after the Hindu saint BabaManeknath.[163]
The city has diverse food options for the vegan community as well. PETA India has named Ahmedabad as India's most vegan-friendly city of 2024.[164]
Parts of Ahmedabad are known for theirfolk art. The artisans of Rangeela 'pol' maketie-dyedbandhinis, while the cobbler shops of Madhupura sell traditionalmojdi (also known asmojri) footwear. Idols of the Hindu deityGanesha and other religious icons are made in large numbers by artisans in the Gulbai Tekra area. In 2019, there was a surge in demand for eco-friendly idols due to increased awareness surrounding the effects of submerging the traditional plaster-of-paris idols in the Sabarmati River.[165] The shops at theLaw Garden sell mirrorwork handicrafts.[129]
The Shreyas Foundation has four museums on its campus. The Shreyas Folk Museum (Lokayatan Museum) has art forms and artefacts from various Gujarati communities. TheKalpana Mangaldas Children's Museum has a collection of toys, puppets, dance and drama costumes, coins, and a repository of recorded music from traditional shows from all over the world. Kahani houses photographs of fairs and festivals ofGujarat. Sangeeta Vadyakhand is a gallery of musical instruments from India and other countries.[172][173][174]
The L. D. Institute of Indology houses 76,000 hand-written Jain manuscripts with 500 illustrated versions and 45,000 printed books, making it the largest collection of Jain scripts, Indian sculptures, terracottas, miniature paintings, cloth paintings, painted scrolls, bronzes, woodwork, Indian coins, textiles and decorative art, paintings ofRabindranath Tagore, and art of Nepal and Tibet.[175] The N. C. Mehta Gallery of Miniature Paintings has a collection of ornate miniature paintings and manuscripts from all over India.[176]
The state-ownedAll India Radio Ahmedabad is broadcast both onmedium wave bands and FM bands (96.7 MHz) in the city.[199] It competes with five private local FM stations:Radio City (91.1 MHz),Red FM (93.5 MHz), My FM (94.3 MHz),Radio One (95.0 MHz),Radio Mirchi (98.3 MHz) and Mirchi Love (104 MHz).Gyan Vani (104.5 MHz) is an educational FM radio station run under the media co-operation model.[200] In March 2012,Gujarat University started a campus radio service on 90.8 MHz, which was the first of its kind in the state and the fifth in India.[201]
Torrent Power thermal power station at Sabarmati, Ahmedabad
The gross domestic product of Ahmedabad was estimated at $64 billion in 2014.[204][205] The RBI ranked Ahmedabad as the seventh largest deposit centre and seventh largest credit centre nationwide as of June 2012.[206] In the 19th century, the textile and garments industry received strong capital investment. On 30 May 1861Ranchhodlal Chhotalal founded the first Indian textile mill, theAhmedabad Spinning and Weaving Company Limited,[207] followed by the establishment of a series of textile mills such asCalico Mills, Bagicha Mills andArvind Mills. By 1905 there were about 33 textile mills in the city.[208] The textile industry underwent rapid expansion during theFirst World War and benefited from the influence of Mahatma Gandhi'sSwadeshi movement, which promoted the purchase of Indian-made goods.[209] Ahmedabad was known as the "Manchester of the East" for its textile industry.[53] The city is the largest supplier of denim and one of the largest exporters ofgemstones and jewellery in India.[18] Theautomobile industry is also important to the city; afterTata'sNano project,Ford,Suzuki andPeugeot have established engine and vehicle manufacturing plants near Ahmedabad.[210][211][212]
The defunct Ahmedabad Stock Exchange
TheAhmedabad Stock Exchange, located in the Ambavadi area of the city, was India's second-oldest stock exchange. It is now defunct.[213] Two of the biggestpharmaceutical companies of India—Zydus Lifesciences andTorrent Pharmaceuticals—are based in the city. TheNirma group of industries, which runs detergent and chemical industrial units, has its corporate headquarters in the city. The city houses the corporate headquarters of theAdani Group, a multinational trading and infrastructure development company.[214] TheSardar Sarovar Project of dams and canals has improved the supply of potable water and electricity for the city.[215] Theinformation technology industry has developed significantly in Ahmedabad, with companies such asTata Consultancy Services opening offices in the city.[216] ANASSCOM survey in 2002 on the "Super Nine Indian Destinations" for IT-enabled services ranked Ahmedabad fifth among the top nine most competitive cities in the country.[217] The city's educational and industrial institutions have attracted students and young skilled workers from the rest of India.[218] Ahmedabad houses other major Indian corporates such asCadila Healthcare,Rasna,Wagh Bakri,Cadila Pharmaceuticals, andIntas Biopharmaceuticals. Ahmedabad is the second largest cotton textile centre in India after Mumbai and the largest in Gujarat.[219] Many cotton manufacturing units operate in and around Ahmedabad.[220][221][222][223][224] Textiles are one of the major industries of the city.[225] Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation has acquired land inSanand taluka of Ahmedabad to set up three new industrial estates.[226]
Public transit includes theAhmedabad Metro, arapid transit system inaugurated in March 2019 with 40 km of track on two lines (East-West and North-South) and a daily ridership of 90,000.[237] Phase 2 of the Ahmedabad Metro—connecting Motera Stadium northwards to Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar—began construction in February 2021 and is expected to be complete by 2026.[238] Other public transit options include theAhmedabad BRTS, also known asJanmarg (people's way), a bus rapid transit system inaugurated in October 2009 with a total fleet of 325 buses over 19 routes and a daily ridership of 190,000.[239] Bus transportation is also provided byAhmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS) with 700 buses over 149 routes.[239] Both the Ahmedabad BRTS and the AMTS are overseen by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.[240][241] Ahmedabad also has self drive car rental service provided by private companies like Just Drive Self Drive Cars.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation introduced "AmdaBike", a public bicycle sharing system, in December 2019 to improve last mile connectivity.[242]MYBYK is the main service provider for AmdaBike with 300 bicycle stations—including at Ahmedabad BRTS stations—and 4,000 bicycles.[242]
In 2001, Ahmedabad was ranked as the most-polluted city in India out of 85 cities by the Central Pollution Control Board. TheGujarat Pollution Control Board gave auto rickshaw drivers an incentive of₹10,000 to convert the fuel of all 37,733 auto rickshaws in Ahmedabad to cleaner-burningcompressed natural gas to reduce pollution. As a result, in 2008, Ahmedabad was ranked as the 50th most-polluted city in India.[244]
Ahmedabad has been identified as a potential host city for the2036 Summer Olympics. TheGujarat government has identified 33 sites in and around Ahmedabad for the development of infrastructure to support the Olympic bid.[260] The city's bid is also being shaped with international expertise, including Australian consultants.[261] A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) is being set up by the Gujarat government to manage Ahmedabad's bid for the games.[262] The fate of theSardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium and theVeer Savarkar Sports Complex is under consideration as part of the city's preparation for the Olympics.[263]
^abJawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (2006)."Profile of the City Ahmadabad"(PDF).Ahmadabad Municipal Corporation, Ahmadabad, Urban Development Authority and CEPT University, Ahmadabad. Ahmadabad Municipal Corporation. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 19 August 2008. Retrieved22 July 2008.
^Tiwari, Anuj (22 October 2021)."Richest Cities Of India".India Times.Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved22 October 2021.The Manchester of East, Ahmedabad, is among the richest cities of India. The city ranks eighth on the list with an estimated GDP of $68 billion.
^Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam (ed.).India Through the Ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 173.
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