India is steadily moving along the path of urbanization, with projections of urban population doubling between 2018 to 2050 from 461 to 877 million. Indian mega-cities have introduced innovative measures for renewal of older areas and urban infrastructure/amenities aimed at revitalization of city-core. Geared towards the G20 initiative, the conclave focused on the three-pronged agenda of themes Policy Arena and Evolution, Enablers and Challenges for Private Developers, and Opportunities to Transform the cities into Sustainable Organisms for Growth.
Prof. Arun Sharma, Vice Chancellor, Adani University welcomed the audience and spoke about the holistic perspective of the real estate and redevelopment scenario. He stated, “As Indian economy grows, India’s culture will assert but India will also adopt western ideas, and hopefully at the intersection of those ideas will emerge a new way of urban planning and housing development which will not only be beneficial for India but will set an example for the world too”.
The programme divided into two session tracks saw participation from the who’s who of the industry. For the first session track on ‘Redevelopment of Housing ‐ Policy Perspectives and Challenges for Private Developers’, Dr. Anurima Mukherjee Basu, Adjunct Professor, FMS, Adani University set the tone and Prof. Chetan Vaidya, Former Senior National Urban Adviser, (SUD‐SC) Project Kochi supported by GIZ, Former Director, SPA New Delhi & NIUA, New Delhi made the keynote address. The panel members for this track were Prof. Chetan Vaidya, Former Senior National Urban Adviser, (SUD‐SC) Project Kochi, Supported by GIZ, Former Director, SPA New Delhi & NIUA, New Delhi; Mr. Tejas Joshi, President, CREDAI Ahmedabad GIHED, MD, Vivan Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd.; Mr. Sunil Sharma, Business Head, Gujarat, Adani Realty; Mr. Hiren Daftardar, Ex‐Deputy Chief Planner of Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai. On the occasion, Mr. Tejas Joshi expressed his views on the development in Ahmedabad and Mumbai, he said” We see a breakthrough in the infrastructure redevelopment scene of Ahmedabad in the next five years”.
The second session track on ‘Transforming Cities ‐ Potential to Adopt Sustainable Practices as Part of the Redevelopment Agenda’, Dr. Astha Agarwalla, Associate Dean, FMS, Adani University set the tone and Prof. Sebastian Morris Senior Professor, Goa Institute of Management Ex Professor ‐ IIM Ahmedabad made the keynote address. The panel members for this track were Prof. Sebastian Morris Senior, Professor, Goa Institute of Management Ex Professor ‐ IIM Ahmedabad; Mr. Samir Sinha Founder & Managing Director, Savvy Group, Ahmedabad Chairman, CII‐IGBC, Ahmedabad & Member National Executive Council; Dr. Vatsal Patel, President, Gujarat Institute of Civil Engineers and Architects (GICEA) Former Chief City Planner (AMC); Mr. Chintan Patel Partner, Deal Advisory National Head‐Building, Construction, & Real Estate, KPMG India. A member of the panel, Mr. Samir Sinha on being asked if green buildings cost more replied that, “Sustainable development is not only profitable but less expensive. For example, fly ash used in the green buildings is a waste product of power plants and hence not only cheaper but readily available. Second, design and operating a green building is less expensive. Every green building in Ahmedabad is able to get a higher rental and higher selling price”.
Dr. Astha Agarwalla, Associate Dean, FMS, Adani University and Dr. Maria Coelho, Academic Head, The Real Estate Management Institute made a special announcement regarding the collaboration between Adani University and REMI on signing of an MoU to offer certification programs from April 2023 onwards. The first certification program to be provided will be on ‘Sustainability and Green Building’.
