Ahmedabad becomes India’s first 'World Heritage City', gets certificate from UNESCO

The city of Ahmedabad which is also known as the commercial hub of Gujarat was formally accorded the status of India’s first World Heritage City by UNESCO on Friday.

The certificate declaring Ahmedabad as a ‘World Heritage City’ was presented by UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova to Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani in Gandhinagar.

Gujarat: Ahmedabad formally accorded World Heritage City status, UNESCO Dir Gen, Irina Bokova handed over the certificate to CM Vijay Rupani pic.twitter.com/PHdRgMdnZU

— ANI (@ANI) September 1, 2017

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 was quoted as saying in the release.

Rupani appealed the citizens of Ahmedabad to maintain the pride and glory of the newly crowned ‘World Heritage City’.