Introduction
RESTORATION OF AZAMKHAN SARAI AND BHADRA FORT • Relocating government press depot and city civil and sessions court to a new place. • Developing lower floors of the Azam Sarai building to create cafeterias, book stalls souvenir shops has also been made. • Bhadra clock to be revived . Archaeological Survey of India office to be relocated. NEW ADDITIONS • A skywalk to Bhadra plaza . • Multi-storey parking at Lal Darwaza bus station. • A Pedestrian bridge will be connecting Sabarmati River Front and pedestrian plaza.
B NDDI I BBAAZZZZAAR R RRE EDDE EV V LO PM B H H EE N E LE O P M E NETN T : Introduction From being an irrigation tract in its early days as mentioned in the Maharashtra State Gazette as, ‘in the north-west of Dongri there existed a plantation of thespesia populnia or bhendi which has given its name as Bhendi Bazaar’ to being developed by the British to resettle communities affected by the Great Mumbai Fire that broke in 1803 at the British Fort area to eventually mushroom into a bustling business district, Bhendi Bazaar in South Mumbai, India has come a long way in terms of socio-economic evolution. Even with its 200 years history of characteristic entrepreneurial resilience, Bhendi Bazaar has gradually sunk in an abyss of civic neglect and infrastructural despair leading it to be seriously challenged in a liberal Indian economy.
A strong need is felt to conserve this segment of the city area of immense heritage value. An attempt for restructuring and revitalizing to conserve this area is proposed in this project. The project is undertaken under the JNNURM programme through a partnership with Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The works of Bhadra Plaza Development Project (BPDP) had begun on 26th January 2012 and this more than 100 crore project aims to turn the entire Bhadra area into a centre for leisure activities. The project is delayed till June 2014.
The Proposal The proposal attempts to reorganize the activities in terms of organized parking and hawking spaces, to define the spatial quality and bring forth the age old grandeur that Walled city and its historic precincts is renowned for. AMC plans to turn the entire Bhadra area into a centre for leisure activities. AMC had inked MoU with Archaeological Survey of India(ASI) for this project that involves landscaping and betterment of 600-year old Bhadra fort and surrounding area. The detailed project includes: • Development of the public plaza and a pedestrian space from Bhadra Fort to Teen Darwaja, • Restoration of the fort • Development of Azamkhan Sarai area, • Pedestrian bridge connecting Bhadra fort to the Sabarmati riverfront • Multilevel parking facility at Lal Darwaja The area between Bhadra fort and Teen darwaja will be declared as pedestrian plaza. Trees will be planted the varieties that have been referred to in travelogues written in early 1600s and 1700s. A Pedestrian bridge will be connecting Sabarmati River Front and pedestrian plaza.
RESTORATION OF MAIDAN-E-SHAHI: BHADRA PLAZA • The area between Bhadra Fort and Teen Darwaza will be paved with granite. • Shanties along the arms of Maidan-e Shahi will be pulled down along with UCO Bank and The Mahila police station that used to be a British military post will be removed. • Trees will be planted — the varieties that have been referred to in travelogues written in early 1600s and 1700s Multi-lingual signage will guide tourists through narrow alleys of pols to important destinations. • A water path will run right through the centre of Maidan-e-Shahi Souvenir shops and roadside cafeterias will come up Museum on walled city’s architecture and galleries, on the fort’s premises Lighting within and outside the fort Handicrafts and traditional cuisine outlets at a comfortable distance from Bhadra fort Walkways will connect the plaza to the riverfront
CASE STUDY:3 B H E N D I B A Z Z A R R E D E V E L O P M E N T
CASE STUDY:2 BHADRA PLAZA DEVELOPMENT
Bhadra is one of the largest market areas stretching from the Lal Darwaja, the main AMTS terminus on one side and from Bhadra Fort, eastwards to a second gate, Teen Darwaja, and thence further east to link with the cloth markets, and the central jewellery and vegetable markets of Manek Chowk. There are about 3,500 vendors between Bhadra Fort and Teen Darwaja. Bhadra is one of the oldest markets in the walled city, with a predominance of Muslim traders. The main commodities sold are new clothes, household goods, shoes and sandals, and fashion accessories.
The bridge is proposed between Ellis Bridge and Nehru Bridge to facilitate easy movement of pedestrians between recreational mile and heritage park that will come up on the opposite banks of Sabarmati River.
AMC is now involved in relocating hundreds of hawkers who occupy a large part of the Bhadra complex to create the envisioned leisure centre.
Over 50% of the 1250 commercial establishments in the project area are owned by Dawoodi Bohras – one of the oldest mercantile communities that first settled in the city during the 18th century. Apart from the traditional business of hardware tools, artifacts bazaar, the Friday flea market, there has been an increase in pilgrim tourism due to the religious and cultural centers situated in the area like the world renowned Raudat Tahera, the mausoleum of Syedna Taher Saifuddin.
REDEVELOPMENT STRATEGY Here are some renders of the 18 acre Bhendi Bazaar redevelopment project that involves moving 25,000 people from 250+ old buildings into apartment towers. The project is being developed by the Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust. All the mosques in the area will be left untouched. From an old TOI article : • 18 acres, 270 buildings, 4,000 homes, 2,000 commercial establishments and 25,000 people. • 80% of the project involves rehousing the existing tenants free of cost in brand new buildings. • The other 20% will include four residential skyscrapers to be sold at the market rate to recover the project costs. (renders show 3, latest walkthrough shows 4) • Each rehab building will have one floor dedicated to services, provision for recreational facilities and Two basements for parking. • Almost 50% of the area will be reserved for open spaces and green areas. The project has many of the important clearances (including the approval of 90% of the tenants) • G+2 Commercial complex, with G+3 commercial complex and upper stories residential
Past: Bhendi Bazzar
Location and Context
However, be it petty shopkeepers or value added service providers depending on elite clientele or businesses requiring spacious floor-space – all macro and micro market players have adversely been affected due to diminishing urban facilities in the vicinity.
With an overall 74% ground coverage, the present 66,264.74 Sq. m. area has one of the highest population density in South Mumbai.
Present : Bhendi Bazzar
FUTURE: BHENDI BAZAAR
KAROL BAGH REDEVELOPMENT, DELHI
BHADRA PLAZA DEVELOPMENT, AHEMDABAD
• Major focus on movement network- Resolved traffic conflict at identified nodes, • Neglected the surrounding context pedestrianisation of major streets to reduce congestion • Façade guidelines would have helped in retaining the character of • Metro plaza to act as entrance gateway to the commercial corridor along Ajmal the place. Khan road • Retrofitting social life by enhancing the visual and physical permeability of the • Pedestrianisation as a tool to solve congestion problems. parks and connecting them to the main commercial corridor
BHENDI BAZZAR REVELOPMENT, MUMBAI • Giving back open spaces. • Maintained the user buyer interface • Change in architectural character though there has been attempt in some parts to main the architectural character.