AHMEDABAD : The iconic 'London Eye' on the river Thames will finds its exact replica on the Sabarmati riverfront. The 135 meter tall Millennium Wheel will be the first of its kind in the country.

It was during one of the Vibrant Gujarat summits that the company Saloria Chartered Architects of London, one of the top 100 architect firms of UK and right holders of equipment technology, had proposed a viewing wheel and recreation zone modeled on London Eye, or Millennium Wheel. The finer details of the agreement between the construction company and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) are taking shape with talks on revenue model, space sharing and ticketing. The site for the project will be the Sabarmati riverfront, claimed a senior AMC official.

The London Eye is actually called an observation wheel. This is different in design from the Ferris wheel we see at fairs. Passenger cars are mounted on the exterior of the wheel instead of being suspended from its circumference.

In the last three years, there have been talks of a millennium wheel being installed in Bangalore, Lucknow and in Surat during 2011. But nothing had materialized till now. However, in the case of Ahmedabad, there have been some meetings with the company. "The revenue model is taking shape. We have offered them land to buy once they give us the demand. A PPP model has also been shared. There were suggestions of setting up hotels in the vicinity, which AMC has refused. We have agreed to set up food courts though," says a senior official of the AMC.

When asked about the project, Guruprasad Mohapatra said, "We are in talks with the company right now. The finer points are being figured out. I cannot divulge much details now." When asked about the ticket pricing, the AMC official said, "It will be a bit pricey. The AMC will not get into the ticket pricing part of it. Viewing the city from 135 meters above will have a small price."

The London Eye is the largest observation wheel in the world, built in 1999 on the south bank of the river Thames. Standing 135 meters high, it gives one a panoramic view of London up to 25 kilometres in all directions. Therefore, it's called the 'London Eye'.

