George Town(Chennai) Redevelopment plan

Farhana.k 2120200095

Navin Kumar 2120200110

Area Re-Development Plan is a technical and political process concerned with the use of land and design of urban environment , including air and water and infrastructure passing into and out of urban areas such as transportation and distribution networks.

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A council that does Area re-development plan consider: designate an area of the municipality as a redevelopment area for the purpose of any or all of the following:(i) preserving or improving land and buildings in the area;(ii) rehabilitating buildings in the area;(iii) removing buildings from the area;(iv)constructing or replacing buildings in the area;(v)establishing, improving or relocating roads, public utilities or other services in the area;(vi)facilitating any other development in the area,

Area Re-Development Plan

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Introduction- Profile

With the construction of one of India's major port and George fort, the region became an important naval base for the British. George town became the core area of Chennai.

George Town

Source: Wikipedia

Major Locations

The commercial corridorsRelationship of commercial land use and the temple locations

Commercial Corridors

Source: culture and commerce of Chennai city – A spatial Analysis of the relationship between temples and retail Activity

T-Nagar

Koyambedu

Sathangadu

George Town

The commercial corridorsRelationship of commercial land use and the temple locations

Commercial Corridors

Source: culture and commerce of Chennai city – A spatial Analysis of the relationship between temples and retail Activity

T-Nagar

Koyambedu

Sathangadu

George Town

History1600-the city was formed of a few scattered settlements separated by long distances. Each settlement grew around the nucleus of a religious institution especially of a temple. The most important part at that time was Mylapore.

• 1639-Francis Day was looking for somewhere to build a fortified warehouse for the English East India Company, he soon acquired the land, where in 1640 he built the compound named Fort St George.

Soon after it was built, a township began to grow up outside it for the natives catering to the needs of the Europeans inside, and this became known as the Black Town(George town).

• By the early 18th century, with a growing population and commercial activities, there was congestion in Black Town, resulting in dispersion of some of the population to neighboring areas.

A fishing hamlet existed at the present site of George Town called as Chennai Patanam, from which the name of Chennai was derived.

• By 1733, George Town became very congested and the weaving community started settling in Chintadripet area where lot of open space was available for their activities. The washer men, who were in the Mint area moved towards the west.

Spatial Growth pattern from core area

In 1773, the English erected 13 pillars along the flattened area of the Black Town and banned construction in any form between the pillars and the fort which would otherwise block the view of possible invaders.

• Potters from this area moved outside the Fort on the north side and formed a new colony named Kosapet.

When the French occupied Madras in 1746 and returned it to the English in 1749 in exchange for Quebec by the Treaty of Aex-La-Chapel, the English flattened a part of Black Town in order to have a clear field for fire in the event of a future attack.

• Soon a new township, known as the new Black Town, came up beyond these pillars and the old Black Town gave way to the Madras high court.

In 1800 especially after the inception of Municipal Corporation, the development of the city began.

• A thoroughfare was formed along the stretch between the pillars and the high court. which later became the China Bazar road.

Several Tamil refugees from Burma, who fled Myanmar during the early sixties, arrived in George Town.

• In 1969, the Burma Bazar, a market selling imported foreign goods in shops on pavements, was established by these Burmese refugees-turned-entrepreneurs.

Relocation of wholesale activities in Vegetable, Fruit and Flower from CBD to Koyambedu and City bus stand from CBD to Koyambedu have been carried out; Iron and Steel Market at Sathangadu was developed. Truck terminal at Madhavaram was made operational.

Old map of George town A street in George townPlan of Fort St George and the city of Madras in 1726

10

Issues in George TownTraffic Congestion in George town due to narrow roads.

Congestion due to commercial activities

Poor Infrastructure facilities

On-street vendors, soaring prices

poor sanitation

non-availability of land

Lack of Pedestrian facilities.

On-street Parking issues

Informal activities are high in George town area.

Improper maintenance of Heritage Buildings.

Street in George town

Mannadi Street (Textiles, imported

goods, eateries)

Angappa naicken street (masjid, textile, eateries)

Linghi chetty street (steel hardware, electric motors and pump sets)

Coral Merchant Street (Transport and shipping offices)

12Strategic proposals

The CMDA removed encroachments from the satellite township of Maraimalai Nagar, central business district of George Town, Koyambedu market complex.

The CMDA has sought the help of the Chennai Corporation and the police to evict the traders from Badrian Street and wholesale flower traders in George Town, as per court orders.

CMDA Shifted the wholesale market from George town to Koyambedu Market.

CMDA shifted Iron and Steel market to Sathangadu.

CMDA announced Road Widening to reduce traffic congestion .

Strategies were adopted not to affect heritage buildings by Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL).

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Badrian Street Koyambedu Market

Shift of flower and vegetable market to Koyambedu

Similarity between one townGeorge Town One town

• George Town and its extension southwards into Anna Salai together constitute the central business district of the City where most of the wholesale trade, specialised retail trade and banking and financial institutions are located and where commercial activity is intense.

• Koovum(Buckingham canal) riverfront development.

• One town is also specialized in Commercial retail and wholesale activities and is the core area of Vijayawada.

• Krishna riverfront development

• Roads are narrow in the streets of George town

• Condition of Roads in One-town are also in poor condition.• Infrastructure is poor • One town has poor infrastructure in terms of storm water drains.

• George town has heritage structures like Fort St George, Madras high court, museum, Thousand Lights mosque and Theosophical Society and and has five temples .

• One town include Heritage buildings like temples.

Lessons learnt

Congestion in one-town can be reduced by promoting mixed land use.

Encroachments can be shifted from the Road side to Gandhi mahila kalashala;which is an open area as it has good connectivity as in Kaleshwara Rao market.

Infrastructure can be improved.

References ’Structure of Chennai’. Chapter 1. CMDA. Retrieved 24 Feb 2013.

Wikipedia

Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) report

The Times of India website, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Chennai-Metro-rail-allays-fears-that-tunnelling-works-will-rattle-heritage-buildings/articleshow/8113755.cms, 29 April 2011, 06.23 am, Accessed on 22.06.2014

 The Hindu website, http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/cmda-seeks-to-ramp-up-antiencroachment-drive/article5125584.ece, 14 September 2013, 09:13 am, Accessed on 13.6.2014

The Hindu website, http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/now-wholesale-iron-merchants-are-scattered/article38783.ece, 20 June 2013, 11:24 am, Accessed on 18.06.2014

Samachar website, http://www.samachar.com/cmda-to-regulate-parking-of-trailers-in-sathangadu-mcecKLfhfje.html, 30 April 2013, 07:43 pm, Accessed on 16.06.2014