Amdavad Municipal Corporation

Cities appear and disappear only to reappear in the tableaux of Indian civilization. The historic city of Ahmedabad was founded in the surge of Islamic conquests that had swept through India. It was established in 1411 AD by a noble, Ahmed Shah, who had rebelled against his overlords in Delhi. The new rulers of Gujarat, keen on establishing their superiority in the material realm, had undertaken a frenzied program of building activities in their new capital of Ahmedabad.

The local self-government of the city, namely Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, emerged as the first people’s representative council or democratic body in India. Ahmedabad had set an example of an autonomous body administrating the city during British rule for the first time. This institution was unique and rich in its diversity since its inception.

The fort of Ahmedabad was dilapidated in many places due to floods in the river. Hence, Mr. Bordel, the collector then convened a meeting of the citizens of the city and formed the ‘Town Wall Fund Committee’ on 21st April 1831 to collect the funds for repairing the wall. The formation of the committee sowed the seeds of the renovation of the city. The committee levied taxes at the rate of one percent on the sale of commodities like ghee etc. Thus, a fund of two lakh rupees was raised and the committee took up the work of repairing the walls.

Sheth Ranchhodlal Chhotalal was nominated by the British Government as the first President of the municipality on 15 September 1885. The Republic Municipality came into existence on 1st April 1915 and Rao Bahadur Bhaishankar Nanabhai became the first elected president of the municipality. Ahmedabad Borough Municipality came into existence in 1925. The centenary of Ahmedabad Municipal was celebrated in 1935. In 1950, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation came into existence and the designation of the Mayor was formed instead of President. The honor of being the last president and the first Mayor goes to Sheth Chinubhai Chimanlal. The central hall of the Municipal Corporation was named ‘Gandhi Hall’ and the administrative building of the corporation was named ‘Sardar Patel Bhavan’.

The Town Wall Fund Committee was established by Ahmedabad’s collector, Mr. Bordel, on April 21, 1831, with the goal of gathering money to restore the city’s flood-damaged fort. The committee imposed a 1% tax on the sale of a variety of goods, including ghee. It repaired the fort after raising 2 lakh rupees.

In 1873, the Ahmedabad Municipality was established. On September 15, 1885, Ranchhodlal Chhotalal was chosen by the British government to serve as the municipality’s first president. On April 1st, 1915, the republic municipality was established. The municipality’s first elected president was Bhaishankar Nanabhai.

In 1925–1926, Ahmedabad Borough Municipality was established. The city commemorated the Ahmedabad Municipality’s 100th anniversary in 1935.

In July 1950, the Bombay Provincial Corporation Act, of 1949, promoted Ahmedabad Municipality to Amdavad Municipal Corporation. President was replaced by the status of mayor. The previous president and the city’s first mayor was Chinubhai Chimanlal.