Public realm strategies in context to the modernization of Railway Station: Case of Habibganj Railway Station, Bhopal

Abstract

Railway Stations being the gateway to the city cast the first impression of the city. Traditionally railway stations have cluttered development around them, largely organic & appear to be temporary. Many railway stations act as transit point between rail & road communication & hence receive a lot of floating heterogeneous population everyday. Railway is largely used as very frequent mode of transport especially by the lower strata of the society. This gives rise to the mixed nature of activities on the edge of the stations. Most Indian railway stations have this scenario around them particularly the older ones. However this scenario is gradually changing. While the old ones remain complex & have limited scope the newer ones within the same city have substantial potential to respond to the future activities & demands of the railway stations. Habibganj Railway Station, Bhopal is surrounded by planned development on western side of the road & ISBT & government land on the eastern side of the road due to which the land is not developed. Also the two access roads being the major roads of the city carries high volume of traffic. Thus there is lack of requirements that should cater to the transit users as well as the local people in terms of functions, seamless movement to next stage of their journey. It has been proposed for redevelopment by Railway Station Development Authority in terms of upgradation of station through commercial development of railway land. Hence the thesis would try to find a way so as to propose the urban growth around the station & ISBT in such a way that more and more public spaces are created and to integrate them through public realm strategies & also the city gets an urban form which provides its residents with an opportunity of enjoyable & comfortable living.