The Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has sparked controversy by inviting bids to lease out the Kankaria Lakefront for two years. This move means a private agency will manage the popular public space. 

The request for proposal (RFP) issued by the AMC includes the historic Kankaria Lake, Kid’s City, and the Nocturnal Zoo.

To upgrade the Kankaria Lakefront and its associated facilities as per the current requirements and provide amenities to visitors, the AMC has invited bids for operation and maintenance. 

The facilities created at the cost of crores of rupees  collected from the taxpayer will now be used to generate profit for the government.

Initially, the operation and maintenance of the lakefront will be handed over to an agency for two years. 

The service provider will be required to provide manpower at 60 points, including 10 ticket counters at the lakefront, 30 points at Kid’s City, three points for protocol services, two bus assistants, two supervision points, one system administrator, and 12 service points at the Nocturnal Zoo. Kid’s City will be contracted on a PPP (Public Private Partnership)  basis. 

Jayesh Trivedi, chairman of the AMC’s Recreation Committee, stated that there is no such consideration at present. The renovation of Balvatika has begun. Similarly, the renovation of other activities will also be carried out in phases. There is no possibility of handing over the entire complex on a PPP basis. 

Dev Chaudhary, deputy commissioner of the South Zone, which oversees the Kankaria Lakefront, stated that there is no consideration to hand over the entire complex for operation and maintenance. Such a plan may be for one or two activities.

However, this statement contradicts the fact that the AMC’s website has advertised for such a proposal.

Also read :

Gujarat HC slams AMC, GPCB over continued pollution in Sabarmati