Urban design issues in commercial street hamirpur,

HIMACHAL PRADESH

AIM:
To study & solve issues related to urban design in the selected commercial street hamirpur.

Objective:

To identify issues along the stretch from Gandhi chowk to roshan lal puri chowk, hamirpur, H.P
To study various factors which cause these issues
To propose solutions regarding the above mentioned issues and thus rejuvenate the urban
space in hamirpur

Why hamirpur ???

Although India is one of the less urbanized countries of the world with only 32 percent of her
population living in urban agglomerations/towns, this country is facing a serious crisis of urban
growth at the present time. Whereas urbanisation has been an instrument of economic, social and
political progress, it has led to serious socio-economic problems.
The sheer magnitude of the urban population, haphazard and unplanned growth of urban areas, and
a desperate lack of infrastructure are the main causes of such a situation. The rapid growth of urban
population both natural and through migration, has put heavy pressure on public utilities like
housing, sanitation, transport, water, electricity, health, education and so on.

References: URBAN ISSUES, REFORMS AND WAY FORWARD IN INDIA

Some of the major problems of

urbanisation in India are :
Urban Sprawl
Urban encroachment
Urban infrastructure
Overcrowding
Lack of open spaces
Housing
Unemployment
Slums and Squatter Settlements
Transport
Sewerage Problems
Trash Disposal
Problem of Urban Pollution
References: URBAN ISSUES, REFORMS AND WAY FORWARD IN INDIA

Urban Sprawl

Overcrowding

Slums and Squatter Settlements

Transport

Sewerage Problems

Trash Disposal

Hamirpur:
Hamirpur, situated in the outer Himalayas
amidst thickly populated region of Himachal
Pradesh is an important regional centre.
Hamirpur town is serving mainly as
administrative, educational and shopping
centre for the surrounding areas. Moreover, it
has a regional technical educational facility,
such as National Institute of technology,
Govt. Polytechnic, Girls I.T.I. and College of
Education.

issue
/noun/
An important topic or problem for
debate or discussion.

Urban encroachment
Visual chaos
Poorly designed open space
Lack of urban infrastructure
Lack of parking
Lack of green spaces

URBAN
ISSUES IN
HAMIRPUR

encroachment
/noun/
Intrusion on a persons territory, rights, etc

Urban encroachment means illegally using the

resources on which you dont have legal
rights. If defining in terms of land or physical
structures then it can be said that
encroachment means building structures in
property boundaries which may belong to
government, individual or any institution.

URBAN
ENCROACHMENT

Land encroachment is a very

common phenomenon in both rural
and urban areas. But the problems
due to encroachment are more
apparent and acute in urban areas
where the rising population and
decreasing natural resources like
water, land and clean air, are posing
challenges to sustainable urban
development.

Our Smart cities of future

desperately need all these
resources, but first of all the land
to build a smart urban
infrastructure. In urban areas the
rampant land encroachment has
led to unplanned growth and
unstopped environmental
degradation.

Causes of Urban Encroachment

Building Pressure on urban land like urbanization and land scarcity for development of urban infrastructure
Unawareness about legal policies and land unethical behaviour of shopkeepers
weak urban governance
Lack of political consensus and commitment,
Poor monitoring, lack of laws and weak implementation of bye laws and lack of punitive action against encroachers
Inadequate parking facilities

Excessive overhangs that cross the road projection

Irregular installation of services

Solutions adopted by different various cities in India that were suffering from encroachment
Ahmedabad
In Ahmedabad the municipal law in Gujarat prohibits the hawking of goods without a license.
The Municipal Corporation is also empowered to remove any encroachments and obstruction
made on the streets. The Bombay Police Act 1950 empowers the police to arrest hawkers for
obstructing free flow of traffic under sections 102 and 107. A natural market is a place where
vending activities take place, due to the profitable locational aspect. There are 142 Natural
markets in Ahmedabad.

Vadodara
No regulation of licensing, last licensing was done in 1992 for about 500 vendors.
10 wards were being appointed to cater different zones of Vadodara.
Hawking and Non-Hawking Zones are defined by each ward.

Bangalore
Hawking can be carried on only in the hawking zones between 8 A.M. and 8 P.M.
Hawkers are not permitted to sell their goods at busy circle intersections.
The license may be renewed at the decision of the commissioner.

chaos
/kes/
noun

complete disorder and confusion.

Hamirpur is a town lying somewhere

between an old hill town it once used to
be, and a modern town that is trying to
get developed. This divide that there is,
has led to an uneven development
creating a haphazard visual identity of
the town, a visual chaos.

VISUAL CHAOS

The modern buildings

The old shops of Hamirpur

The old shops of
Hamirpur

Inappropriate and overwhelming advertising

The conflict between the planned and the unplanned

The whole market is filled with a series of buildings on

both sides in which no harmony can be seen
whatsoever, in terms of height, colours, roofing,
facade, etc.

Another reason for this is excessive and

inappropriate advertising on the streets
which looks very messy and imposing.

CASE STUDY
cannought place, delhi

Neglected faade at
Connaught place, Delhi

Irregular window styles used at

CP, Delhi

Renovation work being done by

NDMC

CP after renovation and proper

treatment given to facades

All shops has a standard design

Door in the middle and show window on
either side
Standards for the signages are specified

STEPS TO BE
TAKEN TO
RESOLVE THE
ISSUE

 Making all wiring underground

We propose to lay the electrical and telephone wires underground as this will
greatly improve the view of the streets in the town and also will make it safe

Specifying a standard roofing design for all shops in market area

We have proposed a regular sloping roof for all the shops in the market
area. This will create a sense of harmony in the market, and create an
interesting roofline

Faade control : specified window design for upper floors and specified colour shades
for exterior walls

The exterior walls will have mostly a fixed type of paint/cladding depending upon different stretches of the
market, and a band of a fixed colour will run through the top part of every building, to add a feeling of continuity
in the market

Standardisation of signages and advertising banners to prevent overwhelming banners all

over the town

In a specific area of the market, all shops will have a specifically designed banner of fixed size which be
compulsorily hung at a fixed height from the floor.
Also, the display of advert banners along the road and between the two sides of roads will be banned by
implementing laws strictly in market area

space
/ speis /
noun

A continuous area or expanse

which is free, available, or
unoccupied.

Open space can be defined as land

and water in an urban area that is
not covered by cars or buildings, or
as any undeveloped land in an
urban area (Gold, 1980)

POORLY
DESIGNED
URBAN SPACES

POORLY DESIGNED SPACES IDENTIFIED IN TOWN

Gandhi Chowk

Rain Shed

Seating Place Near Sabzi Mandi

GROUND

ISBT

STRETCH (HAMIRPUR)

Roshan Lal Puri Smarak

ISSUES
As Gandhi chowk is an intersection of three
streets therefore the seating space seems to be a
focal point.
Raised platform for seating .
There is no privacy for the users.
No visual relief as it faces the crowd of the street.

SOLUTIONS
The platform should be flattened to the ground
level.
Some eating joints may attract people.

Rain shelter

GROUND

ISBT

RAIN SHELTER
Improper drainage conditions
Dustbin placed nearby makes the surroundings
unhealthy.
Parked vehicles in front of the shelter create a
visual barrier. Also it obstructs the accessibility.

Seating Place Near Sabzi Mandi

GROUND

ISBT

SITTING SPACE NEAR SABZI MANDI

ISSUES
Toilets are placed near the sitting space, hence
creates an unhygienic environment
Parked vehicles in front of the shelter create a
visual barrier. Also it obstructs the accessibility.

Roshan Lal Puri Smarak

GROUND

ISBT

SH. ROSHANLAL PURI SMARAK

Raised platform for seating
Appears to be the focal point for the passerby
Spiral staircase have been provided to access the floor
above
Extensive wiring around stairs make the place hazardous

SOLUTIONS
The platform
should be
flattened to the
ground level

Infrastructure
/noun/

The basic physical and organizational structures

and facilities.

Urban or municipal infrastructure refers to

hard infrastructure systems generally owned
and operated by municipalities, such as
streets, water distribution, and sewers.

URBAN
INFRASTRUCTURE

ISSUES IDENTIFIED

Inadequate sitting space

Improper drainage (open drainage)
unorganised street shopping
Placement of dustbin
Access and location of public toilets
Insufficient street lighting

Dustbin placed nearby makes the surroundings unhealthy.

Toilets are placed near the sitting space, hence creates an

unhygienic environment

park
verb

Bring (a vehicle that one is driving) to halt

and leave it temporarily.

In congested urban areas parking of motor

vehicles is time-consuming and often
expensive. Urban planners who are in a
position to override market forces must
consider whether and how to accommodate
or 'demand manage' potentially large
numbers of motor vehicles in small
geographic areas.

PARKING

Existing parking area in hamirpur

Problem due to inadequate parking

References: survey

References: survey

CG ROAD AHMEDABAD

IF YOU DESIGN CITIES FOR CARS AND TRAFFIC, YOU GET

CAR AND TRAFFIC.
IF YOU PLAN FOR PEOPLE AND PLACES
YOU GET PEOPLE AND PLACES

-FRED KENT

NIGHT VIEW OF CG ROAD

AHMEDABAD

HOW THEY DESIGNED SPACES IN AHMEDABAD

COMPARITIVE ANALYSIS WITH COMMERCIAL STREET HAMIRPUR, H.P

CG ROAD AHMEDABAD
Before designing

After designing

This road was one of the major road of Ahmedabad.

One of the great source of income, also known as financial

hub of Ahmedabad.

No any designed public place was there

Very good designed public places

Very hot in summers, and very little green space was

there along with the road

Green spaces are provided along with the road

This was totally car-centric road

No parking was available

Land encroachment was a huge problem by unauthorized
vendors

Shaded pathways are provided for public

Focused on pedestrian access of people
Adequate parking is available for the visitors
Only licensed vendors are permitted in the road
Separate space for bicycles are provided along with the road
Do not disturbed the existing vegetation
Transformed from car-centric road to people centric street

COMPARITIVE ANALYSIS WITH COMMERCIAL STREET HAMIRPUR, H.P

AFTER STUDYING THE CG ROAD AHMEDABAD, SOLUTIONS TO THE URBAN DESIGN PROBLEM IN COMMERCIAL
STREET HAMIRPUR
This is also one of the great source of income for people of hamirpur.

PRESENT SCENARIO OF MALL ROAD HAMIRPUR

No any green space is provided in this street
Lack of designed public sitting spaces
inadequate parking on Mall road, Hamirpur.
No pedestrian pathways are provided in the street

SOLUTIONS
Green space should be provided at appropriate
distance
Shaded pathways should be their for people
Parking should be adequate
Pedestrian pathways should be provided

Land encroachment problem in the lower market

area

License should be provided to the vendors

Unauthorized vendors

By laws and specifications should be provided for the

commercial street

Visual chaos

thank you