PALDI RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBOURHOODPRECINCT PLAN

A PROPOSAL FOR STRENGTHENING THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

Preface

Ahmedabad City was founded on the banks of the river Sabarmati. Since then, the river has become an integral part of the city. Though Sabarmati has always been important for Ahmedabad, its presence remains unacknowledged and the city has turned its back towards the river.

It has long been acknowledged that appropriate development of riverfronts can turn the river into a major asset, which can improve the quality of life and environment in the city. This idea resulted in the creation of a master plan for development of the Riverfront. The Sabarmati Riverfront Project envisages a comprehensive linear development of 15.5 kilometers on both the banks of the Sabarmati River, addressing all its potentials as primary goals.

The objective of this document is to bring into focus the critical need for improving the existing residential neighbourhood in Paldi. The precinct proposal thus emphasizes on the existing condition of the neighbourhood, the requirements for strengthening it and uses its requirements as a springboard for physical development in the neighbourhood. This docu-ment even proposes future development strategies and guidelines for the neighbourhood, which can be implemented over a period of time.

Contents

Location of the Precinct ..........................................................................................................................

The Precinct...............................................................................................................................................

Urban Context............................................................................................................................................ Key Streets and Landmarks in the Precinct........................................................................................................... Dense Residential Neighbourhoods....................................................................................................................... Street Network and Character ................................................................................................................................ Character of Open Spaces..................................................................................................................................... The Precinct - Low Lying, Flood Prone...................................................................................................................

The Riverfront Project Vision................................................................................................................. Reducing the Risk of Flooding ............................................................................................................................... New Sports Facilities, Promenade and Park......................................................................................................... Improved Streets - Strengthening the Arterial Network.......................................................................................... Improved Streets - Strengthening Feeder Network............................................................................................... Creating Functional Hierarchy - Improving Neighbourhood Streets....................................................................... Improving Bicycle and Pedestrian Access to the Riverfront................................................................................... Wider Access to the Paldi Neighbourhood and Riverfront..................................................................................... Improved Open Spaces.........................................................................................................................................

Acknowledgement....................................................................................................................................

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Location of the Precinct

The Paldi neighbourhood is located in the Southern part of Ahmedabad, along the western bank of the Sabarmati River.

The Precinct

This neighbourhood is surrounded by major roads like the Ashram Road and is accessible to the eastern part of the city through the Sardar Bridge and Ambedkar Bridge. The extent of the neighbourhood is 3 kms. in length and 1 km.

in width. This neighbourhood extends from Sardar Bridge to the North to Vasna Barrage in the South. The neighbour-hood is bound by Ashram Road on the east, which acts as a physical barrier for the neighbourhood.

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URBAN CONTEXT

Key Streets and Landmarks in the Precinct

The Paldi Neighbourhood boasts the presence of institu-tions like National Institute of Design, Sanskar Kendra and Tagore Hall, Diwan Ballubhai School and Prabhudas Thakkar College along with neighbourhood parks like the

Dhanvantari Garden and Bansidhar Garden. There is pres-ence of religoius sites such as the Shahi Masjid also. One of the biggest bus depots of the city is also located in close proximity to the neighbourhood.

Sanskar Kendra, designed by Le Corbusier in 1962

Tagore Hall designed by Dr. B.V. Doshi in 1966

National Institute of Design designed by Gautam and Gira Sarabhai in 1961

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Dense Residential Neighbourhoods

The Paldi Neighbourhood is characterised by the presence of low-rise high density middle-class residences. The resi-dences have varied building typology, comprising of bunga-lows, tenements, row houses and apartment blocks, which

are set within a well-defined plot with setbacks from the main streets. The bungalows, row houses and tenements are 2 stories high, while the apartments are 4 to 5 stories high.

Dense middle-class residential neighbourhood in Paldi

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Street Network and Character

The existing street network displays a hierarchy by street width, but lacks functional hierarchy, with the street charac-ter being similar for arterial and feeder streets. The streets are under-developed and lack infrastructure facilities for pe-destrians and cyclists and are vehicle oriented, hence pre-senting a dull picture for the users. There is lack of adequate

street furniture and street signage. Elements like benches and bollards are present in a few places, but overall, there is a dearth of such elements. These must be incorporated in the new plan for the neighbourhood in order to tie together systematically, both the buildings and street furniture in a manner that they reinforce the overall character of the area.

Existing street character in the neighbourhood

Existing street character in the neighbourhood

Existing street character in the neighbourhood

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Character of Open Spaces

There are a few parks and gardens in the neighbourhood. However, only one of them, i.e. Dhanvantari Garden is well maintained, and has good facilities for usage by all age groups. The other parks and gardens are not maintained,

and paint a dire picture of the essential neighbourhood facil-ity. There is a lack of seating arrangement and adequate facilities in the parks, making them unusable.

PPCC Playground

Dhanvantari Garden - a well-maintained public park in the neighbourhood

Dhanvantari Garden - a well-maintained public park in the neighbourhood

Scouts and NCC Ground

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The Precinct - Low Lying, Flood Prone

The existing ground level where the neighbourhood is locat-ed is ...... to ...... mts. The HFL for a 4.75 lakh cusec. flood is +45.00 mts near Ambedkar bridge and 47.21 mts near Sardar Bridge. The neighbourhood, lying below the HFL is

prone to flooding during monsoons. It becomes imperative to protect the neighbourhood from flooding, which will be addressed by the SRFD Project.

Section if the precinct - low lying, flood prone

Existing Development

Project Boundary

Water level

HFL

The contour map on the opposite page and the section be-low show the decrease in ground level while moving from the neighbourhood to the river. The existing neighbourhood

being low lying, is susceptible to flood damage in case of occurrence of a flood.

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The Sabarmati Riverfront Project can make the Paldi Residential Neighbourhood much better: safer, greener and more liveable for all its residents

THE RIVERFRONT PROJECT PROPOSAL

Reducing the Risk of Flooding

Paldi Residential Neighborhood Sardar BridgeEmbankments

The existing level of the neighbourhood is lower than the HFL for 4.75 lakh Cusec flood, making it prone to flooding. Embankments can prevent the neighbourhood from being

flooded, as the finished level of the embankment is higher than the HFL. The section on the following page presents the details of embankments.

Providing embankments

Paldi Residential Neighborhood Sardar BridgeEmbankments

Paldi Residential Neighborhood Sardar BridgeEmbankments

Embankments and High Flood Level for a 4.75 Lakh Cusec. flood

HFL

Existing Development

Project Boundary

Water level

Embankment

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Providing embankments - condition during flood

New Sports Facilities, Promenade and Park

Sports Facilities Promenade Park

The Paldi neighbourhood lacks good parks and gardens which can be utilised by the residents of the neighbourhood. Keeping this deficit in mind, a city level park has been pro-posed, City level sports facilities have also been provided. Additionally, to stitch the neighbourhood with the upcoming

Riverfront Developments, the Lower Promenade is present, which is entirely under public domain. All the facilities are city level facilities, which can be availed by the residents of the neighbourhood as well as the city.

Sports BuildingSports FieldsAmbedkar Bridge Lower Promenade

Provision of sports facilities

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The Paldi Promenade (adapted from Shantigram Promenade)

Urban Forest Ambedkar BridgeVasana BarragePaldi Residential Neighborhood

Provision of a park - urban forest

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Improved Streets - Strengthening the Arterial Network

The existing street network shows hierarchy by width, but not by function. One of the aims for future development for the neighbourhood is to create functional hierarchy among the streets to manage traffic movement efficiently. The ex-

isting arterial street network will be strengthened by demar-cating lanes which will be used by vehicles, cyclists and pe-destrians together. Additionally, organised vending will also be permitted along these streets to enhance their character

New SRFD Arterial Street Sports FacilitiesPaldi Promenade

Paldi Residential Neighborhood

Sardar Bridge

Lower Promenade

Strengthening the arterial street network within the neighbourhood

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Access LaneOrganized Vending Traffic Lane Central Verge

Pedestrian and Cycle Track

Pedestrian and Cycle Track

Bus StopParking

Existing condition of the arterial network - Ashram Road

Improving the arterial network - Ashram Road

Organized Vending Spaces / Parking Traffic LanePedestrian and

Cycle TrackPedestrian and

Cycle Track

Existing condition of the arterial network - Narayanagar Road

Improving the arterial network - Narayanagar Road

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Improved Streets - Strengthening Feeder Network

The existing street network shows hierarchy by width, but not by function. One of the aims for future development for the neighbourhood is to create functional hierarchy among the streets to manage traffic movement efficiently. The ex-

isting feeder street network will be strengthened by demar-cating lanes which will be used by vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians together.

Improving the Feeder Street

Existing Feeder Street

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Creating Functional Hierarchy - Improving Neighbourhood Streets

One of the most important attributes of a neighbourhood street is the presence of children, elderly and vehicles si-multaneously The existing neighbourhood streets lack character and are vehicle oriented. As pa part of the future

development of the neighbourhood streets can be improved to enhance their character and make them more pedestrian oriented.

Pedestrian and Cyclist friendly street

Planting more trees

An existing neighbourhood street

Improving the neighbourhood street by pedestrianisation and planting trees

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Improving Bicycle and Pedestrian Access to the Riverfront

To stitch the existing developments with the new, it is imper-ative to provide vehicular and pedestrian access to the Riv-erfront. Hence, existing feeder streets have been identified, which can be use to provide direct access to the Riverfront.

Wider Access to the Paldi Neighbourhood and Riverfront

The proposed city level Sports facilities, the Lower prom-enade and the Park can be accessed by the residents of the city using the proposed BRTS service and the Metro corridor.

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Improved Open Spaces

The existing greens in the neighbourhood present a poor picture. In order to improve their existing conditions, they can be developed in the lines of good existing parks such as Parimal Garden and Law Garden.

Existing Municipal Garden

Existing Municipal Garden38 ● 39

KEY PLANNERSBimal Patel, Director, HCP Design and Project Management Ltd.Niki Shah, Design Manager, HCP Design and Project Management Ltd.

Vatsal Patel, Urban Planner, Sabarmati Riverfront Development Company

PROJECT TEAMDevangi Ramakrishnan, Ruchita Agarwal, Aswathy Dilip, Riddhi Sheth, Hiren Patel, Premsharan Patel, Krupa Chokshi, Amit Upad-hyay, Dipesh Mistry

ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORTSanjeev SumanAmit Pandya

EDITORSPreeti Goel SanghiRiddhi Sheth

PHOTO CREDITSAswathy Dilip, Mahesh Swaminarayan, ITDP, Preeti Sanghi, Davey-dot - Flickr

PROCESSING AND PRINTING

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© SRFDCL, 2009