Connecting Ahmedabad’s Olympic Bid with Real Estate Opportunities

Ahmedabad’s potential bid for the 2036 Olympics presents a unique opportunity for the city’s real estate sector. By focusing on the themes identified for the bid, the city can attract investments and witness significant development. Here’s how each theme connects to real estate:

Capacity Building (Sustainable and Viable Connectivity):

Usage of Existing Infrastructure:

• Upgradation Projects: Upgrading existing infrastructure like railway stations and airports will likely involve commercial space development for retail, restaurants, and hospitality. This can revitalize older areas around these facilities.
• Transit-Oriented Development (TOD): Optimizing existing infrastructure will encourage TOD projects, creating mixed-use developments with residential, commercial, and office spaces near public transportation hubs. This caters to a growing demand for walkable and well-connected communities.

Accessible for All:

• Universal Design: Creating accessible infrastructure for people with disabilities will require modifications in existing buildings and new construction projects. This presents opportunities for architects, contractors, and developers specializing in accessibility features.
• Affordable Housing: A focus on accessibility also extends to ensuring affordable housing options for athletes, staff, and visitors during the Olympics. This can incentivize the development of affordable housing projects near sporting facilities.

Ensuring Logistical Prowess:

• Last-Mile Delivery Infrastructure: Improving last-mile delivery efficiency can require investment in smaller delivery centers and pick-up points strategically located throughout the city. This can create opportunities for smaller, localized commercial spaces.
• Warehousing and Distribution: Developing a regional logistics hub will create demand for warehousing and distribution centers, driving the development of industrial real estate on the city’s outskirts.

Sustainable Sponsor (Electric Vehicles):

• EV Charging Infrastructure: If Ahmedabad seeks sponsorship from the Indian EV market, the city will need to invest in developing a robust network of electric vehicle charging stations. This can create opportunities for partnerships between real estate developers and EV charging companies.
• EV-Friendly Communities: The focus on EVs can incentivize the development of real estate projects with dedicated EV parking spaces and charging infrastructure, catering to a growing environmentally conscious market.

By strategically leveraging these Olympic bid themes, Ahmedabad can attract real estate investments that not only support the games but also ensure long-term growth and development for the city.

Themes for Olympics:

Sporting events necessitate enormous logistical efforts by aiming to deliver certain tasks and materials at an exact time and a specific place in suitable quantity and quality (Pott et al., 2023). To support the candidature of Ahmedabad for the Olympics India can leverage the existing wealth of knowledge gained by organising international events such as the South Asian Games (1987, 1995, 2016), Asian Games: (1951, 1982) Commonwealth Games (2010).

• Themes for consideration:
• Recommended Themes :
• Reasons for consideration :
• Capacity Building:
  (Focusing on sustainable and economically viable means to support connectivity in Ahmedabad)
  Considering the Chinese investments aimed at bolstering Beijing for the Olympics, as depicted in Figure No. 1, Ahmedabad must align itself accordingly, placing heightened emphasis on ensuring the sustainability of its proposed connectivity projects.
• Usage of existing infrastructure:
  (Ensuring optimal usage of existing infrastructure)
  To reinforce Ahmedabad’s bid for the 2036 Olympics, it’s crucial to assess the existing connectivity infrastructure (roads, railways, and airways) and determine the maintenance requirements essential for facilitating the smooth operation of the event.
• Accessible for all:
  (Ensuring the accessibility for participants and spectators)
  It is imperative for the government and stakeholders, both national and international, to prioritize accessibility for people with disabilities and to advocate for sustainable practices. This theme gains relevance in light of India’s exceptional performance at the Asian Para Games 2023, achieving its best-ever medal tally of 111 medals.
• Ensuring Logistical prowess:
  (Enhancing Last-Mile Delivery Efficiency and Establishing a Regional Logistics Hub)
  Capitalizing on the Olympic momentum to improve the efficiency of last-mile delivery for a smooth event experience, while also fostering the development of a regional logistics hub in Ahmedabad. This combined strategy supports the immediate requirements of the Olympics and facilitates long-term economic growth for the city.
• “Sustainable sponsor”
  (Seeking private investments from private firms)
  Just like Toyota used electric vehicles (EVs) at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, reports suggest they plan to provide a completely electric fleet of passenger vehicles for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Ahmedabad could seek sponsorship from companies in the Indian EV market, which would not only demonstrate India’s commitment to electric vehicles but also enhance the EV infrastructure’s value.
• Stakeholders for the theme of “Capacity Building” (with a focus on sustainable and economically viable means to support connectivity in Ahmedabad) include:
• Local and State Government:
  • Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC)
  • Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA)
  • Janmarg-Ahmedabad BRTS
  • Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Corporation (AMTS)
  • Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC)
  • Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC)
• National Government:
  • Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
  • Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India
  • NITI Aayog
  • Airports Authority of India (AAI)
  • National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
  • National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL)
• Sports Authorities (Local and National):
  • Indian Olympic Association
  • Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
  • International Olympic Committee (IOC)
• Local Community:
  • Local businesses
  • Residents associations & NGOs
• Academia and Experts:
  • IIM Ahmedabad
  • CEPT University
  • IIT Gandhinagar
  • TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute)
• Regulatory Compliance Agencies:
  • Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): Ensures compliance with safety standards and regulations.
• Private Players:
  • Larsen and Toubro
  • Ranjit Buildcon
  • Tata Projects
• List of expected panelists (Indian and foreign nationals)
  • P.T Usha (President, Indian Olympics Association)
  • Shri M. Thennarasan, IAS (Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner)
  • Dharamshibhai M Desai (Chairman, AMTS)
  • Santosh Kumar Yadav, IAS (Chairman, NHAI)
  • Jaya Varma Sinha, IRTS (Chairman and CEO, Indian Railway Board)
  • Sanjeev Kumar (Chairman, AAI)
  • Barjor Mehta (President, CEPT University)
  • S N Subrahmanyan, Larsen & Toubro’s (CMD)

References:

• Pott, C., Spiekermann, C., Breuer, C., & Hompel, M. T. (2023). Managing logistics in sport: a comprehensive systematic literature review. Management Review Quarterly. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11301-023-00361-5
• Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation Columbia University May 2012 [Submitted in partial fulfilment for the requirement for the degree Master of Science in Urban Planning]. (n.d.).

OLYMPIC TRANSPORTATION PLANNING: THE LEGACIES OF BARCELONA AND BEIJING.

Submitted in Partial Fulfillment for the Requirement for the Degree Master of Science in Urban Planning.

Created By: Shivalik Institute of Real Estate
Author: Mr.Harsh Gosalia (Faculty Co-ordinator,SIRE)