The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has proposed installing a large statue of Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee at the Sabarmati Riverfront, with the project timed to mark his birth anniversary on 6 July. Standing Committee Chairman Kamlesh Patel announced the proposal on Thursday, 25 June, following the conclusion of the Standing Committee meeting, where several civic decisions were discussed.

Statue Proposal and Instructions

According to Chairman Patel, the statue is intended to commemorate Dr Mukherjee's contribution to nation-building and will be installed at a prominent location along the Sabarmati Riverfront. Necessary instructions have been issued to the Municipal Commissioner for further procedural action, he said. The birth anniversary of Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee falls on 6 July, and the AMC is working to align the installation with this date.

Unauthorised Occupation in EWS Quarters

The Standing Committee also took up concerns raised by a local member regarding illegal occupation in 17 houses located in the Jupiter Mill EWS quarters in the Asarwa area of Ahmedabad. According to information provided by the Deputy Commissioner, belongings of the encroachers have been seized, and directions have been issued to initiate legal action through the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner.

Civic Property and Parking Facility Review

On the matter of civic property management, Chairman Patel referred to the multi-level parking facility on Sindhu Bhavan Road, noting that while the AMC traditionally leases properties on a 99-year basis, this particular case is being examined as a potential permanent sale. He said clarification is required on several aspects — including the future use of the second, third, and fourth floors of the structure, the extent of Floor Space Index (FSI) utilisation, and the legal position should redevelopment lead to a high-rise of 12 to 14 storeys. Further decisions will be taken only after these issues are clearly defined, he added.

Pest Control Budget and Manpower Expansion

The committee reviewed the city's pest control operations. In the 2025-26 financial year, a budget of ₹10.94 crore was approved, of which ₹5.57 crore has been utilised. The number of households in Ahmedabad has increased from 19,34,400 in 2025-26 to 22,88,500 in 2026-27, necessitating an expansion in manpower from 704 to 903 personnel, according to the Chairman.

Subhash Bridge Reconstruction Under Way

Officials updated the committee on the reconstruction of Subhash Bridge, stating that demolition work commenced approximately a month ago, beginning with removal of the slab and ongoing removal of girders. Following earlier observations of structural cracks, preliminary and detailed assessments were conducted. These studies indicated that replacing the bridge piers entirely would be more appropriate than repairing only the upper section.

The project is being executed under the EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) model, under which the contractor is responsible for design, approvals, and execution. Three independent expert opinions were subsequently sought — from IIT Roorkee, IIT Gandhinagar, and bridge consultant Mahesh Tandon Consultants. All three reportedly concurred that full replacement of the piers would be more suitable for long-term safety and durability, given updated engineering standards.

Officials noted that the original Subhash Bridge was constructed approximately 53 years ago, and current design norms — including loading standards and scour depth requirements — differ significantly from those of the past. The new design will target a 100-year service life and feature an undivided carriageway to improve traffic flow and reduce accident risk.