Effects of Industrial Activities on Land Occupation in Ahmedabad – India

Since industrialization started in Ahmedabad in 1950s, the city becomes larger and larger in terms of population and size. The growth of Ahmedabad city is highly affected by three urban generators on eastern part of the city: which are the three GIDC industrial estates. The research’ aim is to identify and analyze the urban shape caused by the industrial activities and business activity that occupy public areas and streets. Since industrial activities became urban generators to change the use of land, from agriculture into developed land, it has affected the physical morphology of the urban areas. As long as the urban generators exist; business activities also exist in both formal and informal. The formal commercial activity is developed in order to provide facilities for the workers particularly. Street vendor and hawkers also grow on the surrounding areas; along the main street and nearby the worker’s facility inside the industrial estates. The existence of informal sector on these areas give an idea that industrial activity not only causes the change of land occupation, but also encourages the growth of informal commercial activity.