To solve jams, AMTS buses will run in BRTS corridor

Awall coming up in the parking area on the Sabarmati Ashram premises became a bone of contention between those living near the ashram, trustees and other institutions operating from the premises.

The ashramites had raised a strong objection to a ‘boundary wall’ coming up next to the Manav Sadhana and the Gujarat Harijan Sevak Sangh earlier this month. They had met the trustees over the issue several times in the past few days.

On Monday, Dhimant Badhiya along with the other ashramites started demolishing the under construction wall and claimed that the trustees were creating boundary walls in the garb of parking issues. Badhiya said, “Despite the ashram officials intimating us in writing that no construction will be undertaken, nobody removed the one that was already there. This spot has historic relevance and there should be no boundaries here as this was Gandhiji’s home for 12 years and people from world over come here to learn about him.”

Meanwhile, in a letter on August 3 by Atul Pandya, director of Sabarmati Ashram Preservation &Memorial Trust (SAPMT), he cites, “The SAPMT trustees visited the construction taking place near the Ashram Shaala on August 1 and discussed the construction with the trustee of Harijan Sevak Sangh. On receiving letter, the trustees had met again for discussion.

And both institutions have agreed not to have any construction under any circumstances. ”

While ashram officials maintained that the construction was merely a short ‘parapet wall’ meant to ‘restrict cars’ from encroachment, a heated meeting over the issue between the ashramites and trustees and other institutions like NGO Manav Sadhana that operates from the ashram.

Jayesh Patel, head of Gujarat Harijan Sevak Sangh who runs NGO Manav Sadhana said, “The construction was undertaken after suggestions from two ashram architects. I am pained that this becoming a political issue.”

Parking fee hike

From Tuesday, you will have to shell out more for the use of parking space along C G Road. Fee for a four-wheeler has increased from Rs 18 for two hours to Rs 20 for an hour. For two-wheelers, the fee has been increased from Rs 6 for two hours to Rs 5 for an hour.

Kankaria free parking

Keeping upcoming festival in mind, AMC will collect no charge from Amdavadis who park their vehicles at the multi-level parking facility at Kankaria between 9 am to 9 pm from August 13 to September 13.