De v e l o p m e n t o f a r e s i d e n t i a l a r e a in t h e n e w t o w n Ra j a r h a t , Ko l k a t a , In d i a

Hanna Bäckgren. Fp03. Diploma work for Master’s degree, 30 ECTS credit points. Master’s program of Spatial Planning. Blekinge Institute of Technology. 2008 1 On the front page an Indian flag with the text “India is great” is dis- played, this is originally a deco- ration on a truck, and almost eve- ry truck in India have decorations like this. For me it symbolises the pride the Indians feel for their country and what they do. “India is great” – what we do is great! 2 3 Two young women in one of the residential areas analysed in Salt Lake 4 F o r e w o r d This document you hold in your hand the situation in the Kolkata Re- is a product of a Minor Field Study gion at large and Rajarhat is right Scholarship I received from SIDA. now. The study is a diploma work on 30 ECTS credit points by me, Ms Hanna The background and the analysis were Bäckgren, for the Master´s Program to a great extent completed during in Spatial Planning presented at the the three months in India. Back in Blekinge Institute of Technology, Sweden I continued and finished the Karlskrona, Sweden. The scholarship diploma work. made it possible to go to India and carry out the project “Development I would like to give the reader of a residential area in the new who has not been to India a glance town Rajarhat”. of what I have experienced during my time in this incredible coun- My field study in India and the Kol- try with a small personal comment kata region lasted from October on the next page and photos on the 2007 until the beginning of January pages 8 to 10. 2008. During this time I studied the project area and other resi- Hope you enjoy this document as much dential areas already developed in I have enjoyed making it, pleasant the region. I also visited other reading!! residential areas in other parts of the country, this to broaden my knowledge on Indian Spatial Plan- ning and help me when designing a residential area in the new town Rajarhat.

Discussions with my tutor in India helped me to better understand how Malmö - Sweden, May 2008 5 COMMENT ON MY ACKNOWLEDGE- TIME IN INDIA MENTS This was my first time in India. If I would like to express my grati- I must conclude my experiences with tude to; one word, it would be “a lot”. SIDA who provided my with the means A lot of friendly people, a lot of to be able to carry out this di- people in general, a lot of cows in ploma work, the streets, a lot of poor people, a lot of dirt, a lot of smells, a lot my tutor in India, Architect and of tasty food, a lot of pollution, Town planner Rahul Kumar Bysack, a lot of religion, a lot of con- who provided me with useful maps trasts, a lot of yellow taxi cars, and information about Kolkata and a lot of garbage in wrong places, a Rajarhat, lot of children working, a lot of colours, a lot of joy..... my tutor in Sweden, University lec- turer Gunnar Nyström at the Depart- One thing I thought would be very ment of Spatial Planning at Ble- obvious in India was the cast sys- kinge Institute of Technology, who tem. But I did not see any clear has given me advice during the whole signs of it. I met many people and time, spent a lot of time with three fami- lies. These families all had differ- my assistant tutor in Sweden, Pro- ent lives, incomes and house stan- fessor Anders Törnqvist, at the dard. Maybe the cast system would Department of Spatial Planning at have been obvious if I have tried Blekinge Institute of Technology to join these three families, I do who came with good comments at the not know. midterm seminar,

I have tried to reflect on all my my boyfriend Emil Ring who came with meetings and experiences when mak- valuable comments and encouragement ing this thesis, these are the peo- when needed. ple I have planned for! A special thanks to the Bysack fam- ily who guided me in Kolkata and made my time in India to a joyful memory for life! 6 Abstract The urbanisation in India has led district. to a growth of the larger cities, the number of cities with a popu- I have chosen to analyse existing lation over 100 000 inhabitants is residential areas in the Kolkata today 393 and among these cities 35 region as well as in other parts of have a population over 1 million. India to get better understand the Recent made calculations estimate urban planning in India. that by the year 2021 the number of cities with a population over 100 This analysis together with a land- 000 will be 500 and cities with a scape analysis of the project area population over 1 million will be and an analysis of the principals 75. As the housing shortage today of both India´s town planning sys- is 24,71 units it is clear that tem as well as Rajarhat´s planning something needs to be done. has lead to a plan proposal of the project area. The Kolkata region in West Bengal has started to develop a new town My thesis conclude in a proposal 10 km east of the Kolkata city core on one residential area in the new to cope with the housing shortage town. In my plan proposal I have in the region. The new town Rajar- created a unique city, a walkable hat will according to the planning and well connected city, a social program have 750 000 inhabitants sustainable city and an environmen- when fully developed, three com- tal sustainable city for 5760 in- mercial centres and a new business habitants. 7

10 Short facts about India

Official name: The republic of India

Head Capital: New Delhi

Area: 3 287 263 km2, divided into 28 states

China Population: Pakistan 1 114 million (2007) Annul population growth: New Nepal 1,55 % (2000 – 2005) Bhutan Delhi Language: Hindi and also 14 other official languages, English has an impor- Bangladesh tant role as administrative and West Bengal commercial language. Kolkata Religion: Myanmar the majority is Hindu (80,5 %) followed by Muslim (13,4%). Mumbai Government: republic Hyderabad Important industry: service, in- dustry (annual growth 6,7 %), ag- riculture

Important exports: workshop prod- Bengalore ucts, precious stones, jewels, Chennai garments, agriculture products, chemicals

Swedish import from India: SEK 3 274 millions, mainly clothes, garments, machines, iron, steel and leather products Compared to Sweden; Sri Lanka -7,3 times larger (Swedish Ministry of Foregin Af- -123 times more inhabitants fairs, 2007) -17 times higher density 11 Table of contents

Foreword...... 5 Comment on my time in India 6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 6 Abstract...... 7 Short facts about India...... 11

Introduction 17

Aim and Obejctives...... 19 TODAYS PROBLEM 19 PURPOSE 19 APPROACH AND METHOD 19 DELIMITATION 19

BackgrouND 21

HOUSING AND PLANNING IN INDIA...... 22 HOUSING IN INDIA 22 PRINCIPLES OF INDIA´S TOWN PLANNING SYSTEM 23 THE ECONOMIC FACTOR SURROUNDING A PLOT SITE 23 THREE FACTORS SHAPING THE URBAN PLANNING 23 BUILDING BY LAW 24 CLIMATE 24 ECONOMIC FACTOR 25 Private persons 25 Private developers 25 Government housing for LIG 25 URBANISATION IN INDIA 26 STATES 27 CITIES 27

KOLKATA CITY PROFILE...... 29 SHORT HISTORICAL OVERVIEW 29 PRE INDUSTRIAL PHASE, 1690 - 1855 29 PERIOD OF INDUSTRIAL GROWTH AND CONSOLIDATION, 1855 – 1931 29 PERIOD OF RAPID URBANISATION AND METROPOLITAN GROWTH, 1931- 29 CALCUTTA GOES KOLKATA 30 WEST BENGAL AND KOLKATA 30 CITY PROFILE 30 PROBLEMS 32 ACTIONS 32 KALYANI 32 SALT LAKE 32 NEW ACTIONS 34

NEW TOWN RAJARHAT...... 34 AIM WITH NEW TOWN RAJARHAT 34 PRINCIPLES OF RAJARHAT´S PLANNING 36 PROFILE OF THE NEW TOWN 36 PLANNED LAND USE 36 TOWN PLANNING CONTEMPLATE 36 DEVELOPMENT IN RAJARHAT 37 TODAy 37 INFRASTRUCTURE 38 PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS 39 EXISTING SETTLEMENTS 40 GOVERNMENT´S PROPOSAL FOR EXISTING SETTLEMENTS 40 CLIMATE 40

PROJECT AREA...... 42 PLANNED BUT NOT REALISED INFRASTRUCTURE 42 LANDSCAPE INVENTORIES OF THE SITE 44 PATHS 44 LANDSCAPE ROOMS 44 SHADOW 46 WATER BODIES 46 BARRIERS 48 LANDMARKS 48 THE PLANNING OFFICE PLAN PROPOSAL FOR THE PROJECT AREA 50

ANALYSIS 53

RESIDENTIAL AREAS ANALYSIS...... 54 CLEAR PATTERNS 54 BETWEEN DIFFERENT INCOME GROUPS 54 LITERATURE STUDY 55 GATED COMMUNITIES 56 LITERATURE STUDY 56 THE URBAN PLANNING/DESIGN 58 MONOTONY 58 BUILDING FOR THE CLIMATE 59 HEAT 59 MONSOON 59 NEW DEVELOPMENT WITH HIGH RISE BUILDINGS 60 SPACE FOR SOCIAL MEETINGS AND TRADITIONS 61 ANALYSIS OF THE PRINCIPALS OF INDIA´S AND RAJARHAT´S PLANNING...... 62 PRINCIPALS OF INDIA´S PLANNING SYSTEM 62 LITERATURE STUDY 62 RAJARHAT´S PLANNING 62 LITERATURE STUDY 62 CITY TYPE 63 ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSIONS OF THE INVENTORIES DONE ON THE PROJECT AREA IN RAJARHAT...... 64 PATHS 64 LANDSCAPE ROOMS 64 SHADOWS 64 WATER BODIES 64 BARRIERS 64 LANDMARKS 64 EXISTING SETTLEMENTS 64

Plan prOPOSAL 67

PROGRAM FOR THE RESIDENTIAL AREA...... 69 UNIQUE CITY 69 WALK ABLE AND WELL CONNECTED CITY 69 SOCIAL SUSTAINABLE CITY 69 ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABLE CITY 69 Proposal overview...... 70 ACHIEVED DENSITY AND POPULATION 70 3D VIEW 72 THREE RESIDENTIAL AREAS 74 THE SOUTHERN AREA 74 THE WESTERN AREA 74 THE NOTHERN AREA 75 COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL AREA 76 PUBLIC/SEMI PUBLIC SPACES 77 Planning details...... 78 NUMBER OF FLOORS 78 ACTIVITY 79 INFRASTRUCTURE 80 ROAD TYPES 82 PATHS AND MEETINGS POINTS 84 DRAINAGE SYSTEM 86 FUTURE STAGE 88 CLOSE-UP OF THE CENTRAL PART OF THE PROJECT AREA 89 My plan proposal vs. the planning office proposal ...... 90

SourCES 93 16 Introduction

17 Contrasts in Salt Lake. 18 Aim and Obejctives TODAYS PROBLEM In India the economic growth has Keywords in this work will be sus- headline with observations is fol- lead to more work, more work means tainable development, both urban lowed by a literature study, where more people moving to big cities and socially. the phenomenon is discussed. This where the work usually is situated, analysis method together with an and in the end this means that the analysis of the background is the big cities needs to expand, with APPROACH AND basis for my plan proposal. new residential areas, new work- places and so on. METHOD Finally I represent my plan pro- My thesis begins with a review of posal, a comprehensive situation As the housing demand even before the problems that India as a coun- plan with building heights as well this urbanisation was much higher try has been and still is facing, as paths, meeting points, drainage than the housing stock the problem India´s town planning system and system etc. A more detailed plan is a fact. Close to Kolkata the new the way the urbanisation is affect- also gives a closer look at one town Rajarhat is being developed to ing India. After that a closer look area. A summery describes the to- cope with the population growth in is taken on how West Bengals and tal number of dwellings, inhabit- the region. Kolkata´s situation has been and is ants, parking lots and square metre today. The background ends with a floor area. Illustrations and street part where the new town Rajarhat is sections visualise how the project PURPOSE looked at and a landscape inventory area can look like when developed. The aim with this Minor Field Study of the project area. is to make a proposal for a new residential area in the new town To better understand the Indian town DELIMITATION Rajarhat, the area is today agri- planning, structure of buildings, The project areas boundary is the cultural land. building blocks and cities I have existing settlements which to a chosen to analyse different resi- great extant are surrounding the The challenges with this project dential areas in Greater Kolkata project area. The area is well re- will be to make the project area a and also other parts of India, look- stricted but as it is situated in part of the already existing set- ing for similarities, differences, the middle of the new town a great- tlement and turn the new residen- street patterns, street activities, er area have been looked at to get tial area into a vibrant part of weaknesses and strengths in the ar- at better view of the new town. the new town with modern amenities eas. After this “field study” I have and to make an attractive residen- arranged the observations under six tial area to live in for different headlines which I think is the most income groups. useful for this work, almost every 19