This document outlines a public engagement strategy and action plan for a major public works project in Ahmedabad, India. It notes that currently public awareness of the project is minimal and information sharing lacks transparency. The strategy aims to increase transparency, inform residents about the project details, understand public concerns, and facilitate citizen involvement. Key actions include disseminating information through various channels, engaging priority groups, and partnering with organizations. Current initiatives include focus groups, developing online and print resources, and organizing events on the riverfront. Future plans include more presentations, electronic updates, consultations, and collecting ongoing public feedback. The overall goal is to increase awareness of the project and have residents actively participate in and take ownership of the riverfront development.

1. Public Engagement Strategy and
Action Plan

2. The current situation
• One of the biggest public works project in the country
• Public awareness about the project is minimal
• Non-transparency in the information system
• People are misinformed
• There is apprehension regarding the impact of the project on the city
In order to address these concerns, the government is putting more
emphasis on “citizen engagement”

3. Challenges to public engagement
• The current system does not even inform the proceedings of the project
• Need to initially inform the residents about project details, as deemed fit
for public release
• Moving Ahmedabadis from awareness to informed action will require a
major shift in current thinking and behavior.
• Opportunities for direct involvement are not obvious.
• Public engagement programs will require new and sustained resources
and the development of “strategic alliances” between the government
and Ahmedabadis for public engagement programs to succeed.

4. HCPDPM and SRFDCL
• To address the issue of public engagement, the SRFD Communications
team was created.
• It comprises of members from HCPDPM and SRFDCL.
HCPDPM
Bimal Patel
Riddhi Sheth
Tushar Kansal
SRFDCL
Anand Shah

5. Initial Objectives
• Increase transparency in the public information procedure
• Beginning a process of public engagement
• Understand and address the apprehensions people have for the project
by providing information
Vision: Inform the residents of the city about the Riverfront project

6. What can be done
• Basic awareness is the first step and public involvement in the project is
the last and most desired step
• Ahmedabadis can come together and create a public culture that will
define Ahmedabad
• The riverfront’s public relations team is uniquely positioned to:
– Forge partnerships
– Facilitate a citizen engagement initiative that will transform Ahmedabad and redefine
government’s approach to public participation throughout India

7. Public Engagement Goal
• To bring Ahmedabadis back to the Sabarmati
• Expected results:
– More residents of the city are aware of the project proceedings
– Reduction in apprehension regarding the project
– Active participation by residents in events on the riverfront
– Subsequent organization of events and activities by the residents on the riverfront
– Taking ownership of the project and the space in due course of time

8. Strategic Approach
• The public engagement strategy will employ a two-pronged program
approach:
– SRFDCL-HCP will create public awareness about the project
– SRFDCL-HCP will develop and implement their public engagement initiative

9. Priority Groups
• Target audiences:
– Children and youth in and outside the formal education system
– Senior citizens
– Community based organizations
– Media
• Decision makers, policy makers and opinion leaders:
– Private sector
– Academic sector
– Government sector

10. Action plan – Current initiatives
• Initial understanding of public perception of the project
– Focus groups at HCP (7 nos.)
– Focus groups around Ahmedabad (7 nos.)
• Selection of focus groups was done to:
– Address the residents of different areas of the city,
– Across different socio-economic groups and
– Different professions

11. Action plan – Current initiatives
• Disseminating project information by:
– Creating a website
– Preparing a list of FAQs
– Preparing a presentation for providing overall information regarding the project
– Preparing a brochure and poster
– Preparing an information kit (brochure, riverfront movie, presentation)
– Regular press releases (English and Gujarati newspapers)
– Organizing focus groups (at HCP and around Ahmedabad)
– Exhibition hall below Nehru Bridge – exhibition design

12. Action plan – Current initiatives
• Engaging residents of the city by:
– Creating a list of potential events that can be organized on the sample stretch
–Creating an event management plan and organizing events every fortnight on the sample
stretch for a period of 3 months
–Creating a method to receive feedback (website – contact us, feedback form on the
brochure, feedback/ suggestion board on the sample stretch)
–Forging partnerships with NGOs like Volunteer Ahmedabad to build mutual trust
between NGOs and local authorities, and to help organize large events and activities
better

13. Action plan – Progress of Current initiatives
No Program Progress Completion
date
1 Website Input of content 23/05/2010
2 FAQ list Complete 26/04/2010
3 Presentation Complete 10/05/2010
4 Brochure Complete from HCP, feedback remaining from SRFDCL 24/05/2010
5 Poster Pending 26/05/2010
6 Press releases Ongoing -
7 Focus groups Complete 21/04/2010
8 Exhibition hall Pending July 2010
9 Events list Complete, selection of events pending from SRFDCL 03/05/2010
10 Event management
plan
Complete, approval and details pending from SRFDCL 19/05/2010
11 Organizing events
at SS
Pending August, 2010
12 Forging
partnerships
Pending Ongoing

14. Action plan – Future initiatives
• Disseminating project information by:
– Project presentations in different areas of Ahmedabad across all socio-economic
spectrums
– Creating a system of sending e-letters every week for people who sign up on the
website
– Disseminating information kit around Ahmedabad
– Public consultations in riverfront precincts, while making the development plans for
precincts
– Empowering NGOs like SEWA, etc. to create awareness about the relocation process
among slum dwellers
– Regular tours to the exhibition hall below Nehru Bridge
• Engaging residents of the city by:
– Collecting feedback, compiling it and presenting it to respective authorities
– Creating an event list on the website, where organizing activities/ events can be done
in an equitable manner

15. THANK YOU