Ahmedabad: Heavy security but Sabarmati riverfront losing its lights

AHMEDABAD: As dusk settles, the Sabarmati riverfront comes alive with a symphony of lights that casts a soft glow on the tranquil waters. However, dimming the visual splendour is a wave of brazen thefts that have left authorities scratching their heads in disbelief.
Despite 383 security guards and a whopping annual security budget of Rs 8 crore, miscreants have pilfered the decorative lights right from under their noses.
The audacious thieves have made off with lights and copper cables totalling Rs 58 lakh since 2014. Most of these thefts occur during the evening or at night on the stretch between Ambedkar and Sardar bridges, raising concerns about the effectiveness of security measures.
The menace has grown so much that the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Limited (SRFDCL) published newspaper notices on Friday, warning people against touching the poles to avoid being electrocuted. It has issued notices to the light maintenance and security agencies and imposed a fine of Rs 41 lakh on the security agency for failing to curb the thefts.
The riverfront, spanning 11.2km, has a lower promenade for pedestrians, while the upper promenade features various attractions such as a flower park, an event garden, a large public park, and a sports complex. Decorative lights and streetlamps were installed to illuminate the roads, parking lots, sidewalks, and other public areas on the riverfront.
'Copper wire worth over 2 lakh stolen in a month'
However, visitors now find themselves walking in the dark along several stretches on the upper and lower promenades.
To address safety risks, SRFDCL published a notice in the newspapers, strictly warning people against touching or leaning on the electric light poles.
"We had installed approximately 2,600 streetlights and decorative lights on the riverfront. In the past month alone, thieves have stolen copper wiring worth Rs 2.58 lakh from 50 poles that were installed recently.
They also steal aluminium sheets from the poles. The thieves stole the wiring while the poles were lit. They are undeterred by the risk of electrocution," says a senior SRFDCL official.
The SRFDCL speculates that drug addicts frequenting the lower promenade may be responsible for these crimes. Notably, the SRFDCL has refrained from filing police complaints to avoid controversies. To prevent thefts, some suggest employing more security guards while others want more CCTV installed. The SRDCL promises to take steps to bolster security on the riverfront.