Urban redevelopment of the derelict mill land by safeguarding the public realm: a case of Indore

Abstract

Existence of abandoned mill lands in the core of city has become a crucial urban issue which needs to be sorted out to create them as functional assets of the city. These land locked spaces are a major under‐utilization of infrastructure, causing economic losses affecting the city or social problems affecting people's life. Having a great market value these vacant land parcels need to be developed judiciously otherwise the piecemeal approach will lead to a haphazard growth disturbing the city spatially. In addition to this, these derelict mill lands create voids in the urban fabric that impede development and regeneration around them. These industrial buildings serve an important role in urban life as the former engines of production and economic centers of communities, but when their doors are shut, they are left to decay. They are not preserved because they lack the architectural, historical and symbolic significance that society requires to retain them. Thus aiming towards redevelopment of these land parcels is one of the few viable opportunities that can direct Indore towards a new public destination and socially sustainable urban development by advocating the public realm - for the city’s growing needs.