INDIA AND FRANCE SIGN AGREEMENT ON RESTORING THE HISTORIC WALLED CITY OF AHMEDABAD

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Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO), a Government of India undertaking and Government of France today signed an agreement under which HUDCO Niwas loan would be extended at subsidized rates for repairs and restoration of the historic and traditional houses in the walled city of Ahmedabad. An amount of Rupees two crore has been set aside by HUDCO for this purpose.Government of France will provide a one time grant assistance to HUDCO for providing interest rate subsidy. The agreement was signed by the Chairman and Managing Director of HUDCO, Shri L.M. Mehta and Ambassador of France in India H.E. Mr. Dominique Girard in the presence of Union Minister of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation, Shri Ananth Kumar. This pilot initiative of HUDCO aims at developing an appropriate financing mechanism, which in turn will be helpful in framing the policy for revitalization of the traditional housing stock in other cities as well.

Indo-French cooperation in the field of heritage was initiated on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of India’s independence. Conservation of a historical town center was considered a subject of urgent intervention, and Ahmedabad was chosen as a test case. A MOU was signed between Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, HUDCO and the French Government for collaboration on rehabilitation of the Historic Centre of Ahmedabad.

Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation under the partnership with the French Embassy has already initiated actions for documentation and creation of a database. A Heritage Centre has also been set up to provide technical assistance and guidance to heritage property owners in the walled city.