Gujarat's commercial capital Ahmedabad was on Friday formally accorded the status of India's first World Heritage City by UNESCO.
UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova handed over the certificate declaring Ahmedabad as a 'World Heritage City' to Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani in Gandhinagar.
In July, the UN agency had inscribed Ahmedabad as India’s first World Heritage City at a meeting held in Poland.
Speaking after receiving the certificate, Rupani said it was a moment of pride for Gujaratis.
He slammed the previous governments for "not doing enough" in the past to get this tag for the city, said an official press release issued by the state government.
Ahmedabad received this tag late because the previous governments did not pay any attention to it. Our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, saw this dream in 2010 (when he was Gujarat the chief minister). His dream of getting the world heritage tag for the city has now been realised.
Rupani appealed the citizens of Ahmedabad to maintain the pride and glory of the newly crowned 'World Heritage City'.
On the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said the city was previously known for trade and commerce across the globe.
But now, it has acquired one more tag of World Heritage City and gained recognition globally.
The walled city of Ahmedabad, believed to be founded by Ahmed Shah some 600 years ago, has 26 ASI-protected structures, several places that capture the essence of community living and numerous sites associated with Mahatma Gandhi who lived here from 1915 to 1930.
In 1984, the first study for conserving heritage structures was carried out in the city. A heritage cell was also set up by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC).
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)