Abstract:
The Adi Ganga Canal, historically significant as a trade route in ancient Kolkata and
revered as a spiritual landmark, has faced neglect and pollution amid the city's
urbanization. Situated alongside the Adi Ganga, the 300-year-old Kalighat temple
venerates the Hindu Goddess Kali and stands as one of the esteemed 51 Shakti Peeths
on Earth.
Following the partition in 1947, a surge of people, primarily from marginalized
backgrounds, sought refuge along the canal's banks, escaping political turmoil and
pursuing better prospects in the city. Today, these settlements are marred by household
waste, with inadequate sanitation services exacerbating water pollution.
The vicinity surrounding the Kalighat Temple lacks pedestrian-friendly pathways and
infrastructure. Narrow streets, bustling with activity, suffer from congestion due to factors
like street vendors' encroachment, mixed traffic, and insufficient infrastructure. This
deficiency renders the area unwelcoming to pedestrians and fails to meet the needs of
both residents and tourists.
In addressing these challenges, this thesis advocates for a pedestrian-centric design
approach as a crucial element of the area's redevelopment plan. This entails broadening
sidewalks, separating them from vehicular traffic, establishing specific vending zones
vital for the urban economy, and introducing traffic-calming measures like speed bumps
and raised crosswalks.
The objective of this thesis is to rejuvenate the Adi Ganga Canal, transforming it into a
vibrant green corridor that enriches the city's social, ecological, and cultural fabric. The
research will assess the current state of the natural environment, ecological health, and
living conditions along the Adi Ganga Canal through on-site visits, resident interviews,
literature reviews, and data collection via tools like GIS mapping.
Enhancing public spaces is central to this effort, with proposals aimed at creating
accessible and lively canal-side areas catering to diverse demographics and community
needs, while also focusing on ecological revitalization.
