This city report is the result of a research-based study on Material Flow Analysis of the construction sector in Ahmedabad, with a focus on the housing sector. The study is part of the European Union’s Resource Efficiency Initiative (EU-REI) for India and aims to support India in the implementation of the United Nations Global Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) agenda by way of adapting international standards and best practices on resource efficiency and fostering the sustainable use of resources.

Ahmedabad is the largest city of state of Gujarat in India. It is the seventh largest metropolis in the country and also one of the fastest growing cities in a rapidly urbanising state – Gujarat is 42.6% urbanised as compared to an all-India urbanisation average of 31.2% (Census, 2011). Between 2012-2018, Gujarat was the second fastest growing state in India with 10% GSDP growth rate1 (at 2011-12 prices) and 10.12% growth of per capita Net State Domestic Product. Many aspects of this rapid growth – population growth, employment growth, housing and infrastructure augmentation are reflected in the development of Ahmedabad. Since mid-19th century, economic growth of Ahmedabad has been underpinned by industry. After the boom of textile mills from 1950-80 chemical and pharmaceutical industry flourished after the liberalisation of economy in early 1990s. In the last two decades – the tertiary ‘services’ sector has dominated the economy – including business and commerce, transport, communication, construction and information technology. 66% of the total workers in Ahmedabad are employed in this sector.

The Ahmedabad Urban Agglomeration (AUA) 5 includes 4 towns and 103 villages (besides the municipal area), leading to a multitude of local governments (both rural and urban) and fragmented structure of governance. Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is the local government body responsible for infrastructure planning, design and implementation of services in its 6 administrative zones – Central, North, South, East, West and New West covering 466 sq.km area. Spatial and land-use planning of the AUA, covering an area of 1866 sq.km is undertaken by the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA), which is set up under the Gujarat Town Planning and Urban Development (GTPUD) Act of 1976.