Ahmedabad authorities turn blind eye to 3k complaints of commercialisation in residential areas
Updated: Apr 8th, 2025
More than 3,500 residential societies in Ahmedabad are reportedly allowing commercial operations in residential zones without restriction.
The negligence and lack of action over one such complaint led to a horrific incident in Ahmedabad’s Gyanda society where a pregnant woman and her 4-year-old son died in a massive fire.
According to housing society regulations, residential premises cannot be rented out for any non-residential or commercial purpose. Doing so is a direct violation of the Society Act. However, in Ahmedabad, over 3,500 societies openly advertise and operate commercial businesses from well-known residential societies, while the authorities have remained completely inactive.
Societies are not even granted the legal power to approve such activities, allowing tenants or homeowners to exploit loopholes by paying taxes under shop establishment licenses and starting businesses at will, thereby damaging the social and regulatory structure of the society.
An official at Amdavad Municipal Corporation said, “Complaints against such commercial activities can be submitted on the corporation’s website.” Credible sources have revealed that in areas such as Navrangpura, Naranpura, and Paldi, more than 300 residential societies have turned bungalows into hospitals, warehouses, and businesses with licensed medical equipment operations.
Residents of Samast Brahmakshatriya Society in Paldi shared, “Our society has turned into a full-fledged hub of commercial activity. Similar commercial invasions are rampant across the Paldi area. Older societies are losing their residential essence. We have informed the corporation several times about transport and other business operations being run from homes, yet there remains a severe lack of sensitivity toward the issue of commercial misuse of residential spaces.”
The fire at house number 24 in Gyanda society broke out after blasts of gas cylinders used in air conditioners were stored in the house. The society’s chairman had repeatedly informed the municipal corporation to put an end to the commercial activity taking place in the society. However, no action was taken, ultimately resulting in the tragic loss of innocent lives from the same family.
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