Ahmedabad boating services at Kankaria Lake and the Sabarmati Riverfront could resume after more than two and a half years, with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation expected to take a final decision on licensing and permissions at a meeting on 16 October, according to AMC officials cited by Gujarat Samachar.
Boating was suspended across the state after the Harni Lake boat tragedy in Vadodara. The shutdown has kept boats at Kankaria Lake and the Sabarmati Riverfront out of operation, affecting boat operators whose livelihoods depended on the recreational services and visitors who used the attractions as part of Ahmedabad’s public leisure infrastructure.
At Kankaria Lake, one boat operator reportedly performs a daily prayer beside his parked boat, seeing its return to service as a route back to employment. The account highlights the economic effect of a prolonged safety-related closure beyond the immediate question of whether visitors can access a particular recreational activity.
According to the report, boat operators have completed required modifications under the administration’s revised guidelines. Safety-related work reportedly includes inspections of boats and equipment, while closed-circuit television cameras have been installed across the lakefront for surveillance. A control centre for real-time monitoring has also been prepared.
The AMC’s licensing and permission process is now described as being in its final stage. An official quoted in the report said boating would restart once approval is granted at the municipal commissioner level. The 16 October meeting is expected to consider the final permission, although the report does not establish that reopening has already been approved.
The prolonged suspension has also altered how Kankaria Lakefront functions as a civic destination. The lakefront is maintained and beautified through municipal spending, but the absence of boating and rides has reduced the range of activities available to residents and visitors. The report says local residents and tourists have questioned why services remain closed after operators completed the required safety measures.
The issue places two administrative responsibilities alongside each other: preventing a repeat of a fatal boating incident and ensuring that safety rules can be implemented through a clear, time-bound licensing system. The available information indicates that surveillance, monitoring, boat inspections and safety equipment checks have been addressed, but the final decision remains with the municipal approval process.
For boat operators, the immediate milestone is the commissioner-level meeting scheduled for 16 October. For visitors, reopening will depend on the outcome of that meeting and the issuance of formal permissions by the AMC.
