8 firms in fray to design AUDA’s ‘sky-high’ dream

Even as the new plan awaits the state government’s nod, AUDA had invited expression of interest from Indian design firms in September. “As per the new plan, armed with a maximum permission for building up to 100 metres with a Floor Space Index of 5.4 from the current 1.8, we can build between 24 and 25 floors. With a total area of 4,000 sq metres, depending on a nod from the Airport Authority, we may build 22 or 24 floors based on the plan submitted by the winning design firm,” said D Thara, CEO AUDA.

A panel of experts including D Thara, AUDA CEO, Vatsal Patel, chief Town Planner-AMC, leading urban designer Rahul Malhotra, Bimal Patel, president of CEPT University and director at HCP Design Planning and Management Pvt. Ltd., H M Thakkar, Deputy Town Planner and VD Vaghela Senior Town Planner, will pick a design firm from among these by the second week of October.

“Metro link Express from Gandhinagar to Ahmedabad’s proposed station will be in front of AUDA’s building. Our front margins will be merged with the footpath and the station will have connectivity right up to the AUDA building that will have a public area inside it. This will increase the public domain, provide wide walking spaces for pedestrians,” Thara added.