LIVABILITY OF CORE CITY AREAS Vikas Verma (Department of Urban Planning, SPA-New Delhi) ([email protected]) Abstract - The core areas in Indian cities, are generally observed to have a poor quality of life. This is mainly due to the changing land-use, excessive commercialization, increasing densities, high pressure on infrastructure and traffic congestion. It is important to attend to these issues, since neglecting them could further decay the quality of life in these areas. This paper aims to identify the parameters of livability for the core areas specific to Indian cities. It begins with understanding the general parameters of livability in various cities around the world, with three major contexts, the American, the European and the Asian context. It then understands how core area in Indian cities can be identified and studies the characteristics of these delineated core areas. It then tries to find out the parameters which are applicable for the core areas for cities in the Indian context. It further understands these parameters through study of four Indian cities with typical core areas and similar characteristics and issues. On the basis of these case studies, the typical issues are identified and a refined set of livability parameters, specific for core areas in Indian cities are derived. Keywords – Core city area, livability index quality of life, national and international city livability parameters. INTRODUCTION The aim of the study is to understand the livability parameters of core areas in context of Indian cities. The study begins with understanding the livability parameters that are accepted worldwide. The general parameters to access livability of any city. The study then focuses upon core areas of Indian cities. Especially upon their characteristics and issues. We try to delineate the core area/inner area of the city. The research includes case study of four different Indian cities having typical core areas with similar characteristics and issues. On the basis of study of these case studies, typical issues of core areas are identified. There is an attempt to identify new livability parameters that could evaluate livability standards specifically with respect to core areas in Indian cities. The usual process of city development begins from a “core” where people congregate to give the characteristic of urban form to an area. This core can be a market place or it could be a historic core. Such inner city or core areas, in times to come, become misfits, because of changing scales and functions and are unable to provide modern standards of living, befitting healthy urban development. While the city expands and spreads to suburbs adding to the intermediary and peripheral zones that are supported by faster means of communication, the inner city becomes more and more congested because of its centrality and has a tendency to slide back economically and physically because of overuse and obsolescent economic activities. 1 Fig. 1: Delineation of the core, inner and sub urban area of the city. Source: E-GIS (2010). Core area is an area, centrally located with respect to activities and housing compared with any part of the town. 1. Activities: Has a greater concentration of activities, especially those concerned with business and administration. 2. Density of population: Has high population density. 3. Traffic volume: Has a high traffic volume. 4. Density of building: Usually also has high building density. 5. Land value: Has high land values. 6. Social and traditional values: Is normally ascribed special symbolic significance. 7. Heritage area: Possesses architectural, planning, historical or cultural interest. Core areas in American/European countries In cities experiencing rapid economic development, historic districts are often overlooked or demolished due to increasing pressure on urban land and its subsequent rising value (Lee, 1996). Residents belonging to lower socio-economic strata are often the first to be evicted from inner-city areas. Alternatively, these areas can remain zones of neglect and despair, alienated from the wider economic development and physical transformation that goes on around them and with their own chaotic construction and expansion which rarely respects their historic and cultural significance. At the same time, historic districts often serve as the main symbol of a city and can be a major draw for tourists. 2 Issues of core areas in Indian cities Our traditional city cores are being strangled by mounting problems and declining environmental quality. The issues commonly found in the core areas of Indian cities are: 1. Changing image of the core: the image of the core is fast changing from socio- cultural and religious core to a commercial center. 2. Declining living conditions: owing to dilapidated, unsafe building conditions, high densities led to overcrowding, lack of proper services and amenities. 3. Over utilized areas: these areas create imbalance in development and add pressure on space, infrastructure etc. The methodology of this paper involves identification and delineation of core areas in Indian cities. It is then followed by identification of characteristics of core areas. The main aim of this paper is to formulate parameters for evaluating livability of core areas. Following methodology is adopted to formulate the livability parameters. Fig. 2: Methodology adopted to formulate the livability parameters Source: Author. Core Areas Definition The usual process of city development begins from a “core” where people congregate to give the characteristic of urban from to an area. This core can be a market place or it could be historic core. As the city grows this core transforms itself into an inner city. 3 Characteristics Core area is an area, centrally located with respect to activities and housing compared with any part of the town. 1. Activities: Has a greater concentration of activities, especially those concerned with business and administration. 2. Density of population: Has high population density. 3. Traffic volume: Has a high traffic volume. 4. Density of building: Usually has also high building density. 5. Land value: Has high land values. 6. Social and traditional values: Is normally ascribed special symbolic significance. 7. Heritage area: Possesses architectural, planning, historical or cultural interest. Case Study 1 – Jaipur The original city was confined within the enclosing walls but with growth of population and congestion, the municipal area had to be expanded. Factors contributing to the decline of the city: 1. Elevation disharmony in style of buildings. 2. Hoardings and advertising over important structures. 3. Congested commercial spaces in the erstwhile open areas. Following steps were taken to conserve the distinct and traditional architectural style: 1. Plan for uniformity in the façade. 2. Demolition of all encroachments. 3. Carving adequate paring bays. 4. Control over unauthorized construction of buildings. Case Study 2: Ahmedabad Ahmedabad was planned according to ancient indo Aryan tradition of a royal capital. The distinct characteristics of its walled cities are intense concentration of population, economic activities and recreational centers, narrow and congested roads, wholesale and retail shopping centers, intensive commercial land use along the major roads and mixed traffic and inadequate parking facilities. Rapid increase of population due to rural-urban influx and excessive concentration of activities has led to strain on urban infrastructure thereby unfitting the environment. 4 The strategy of urban planning for Ahmedabad metropolitan area was formulated with a view to create better environment in and around the old city area. Two formidable issues in urban renewal are: 1. Environmental improvement. 2. Redevelopment involving clearing of obsolete buildings. An Approach for Urban Renewal: Concentrate on environmental improvement and renewal of existing commercial centers. At micro level: 1. Traffic operation plan 2. Conservation of old buildings 3. Up gradation of services Case Study 3: Hyderabad The city of Hyderabad had 3 distinct areas: old city, new city of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The city began to lose its significance with the shifting of capital to a new city. Several factors contributing to decline of old city are: 1. High density of population. 2. Squatting on public and private lands. 3. Inadequate transport system. 4. Outdated water supply and sewerage system. 5. Incompatible land use. 6. Lack of health and educational facilities. 7. Declining economy and employment contributing to illiteracy and poverty. The redevelopment programs undertaken by the authority include: 1. Road widening and formation of new roads. 2. Improving health, educational and recreational facilities. 3. Augmenting housing stock. 4. Construction of Shoppe line. 5. Preservation of historical monuments. Case Study 4: Shahjahanabad The walled city of Shahjahanabad has become the core of a vast extended metropolis. It is a city of extreme chaos facing a multitude of problems. The city was built to accommodate a population of 60,000, now accommodates more than 3, 60,000. 5 Old Delhi has become the largest commercial center with estimated turnover of over 5 Billion INR per year. Around 50% of the structures are under non- residential and non-conforming uses. The city built and meant for pedestrian movement with narrow streets and chowks is choked with traffic jams. DDA in its master plan talks about comprehensive renewal strategy for the walled city under