Business Line       30.11.2011

Master plan for renovating Kochi

V. Sajeev Kumar
The plan also calls for renovation of the existing boat jetty and beautification of the park.

It proposes creating an urban square adjoining Jew Street, restructuring Bazaar Road and conserving the Coonen Cross Church and Black Synagogue.

A master plan drafted by a group of architecture students calls for concrete steps to renovate and revitalise the once-vibrant coastal township of Mattancherry, an integral part of Kochi, the industrial and commercial hub of Kerala.

HERITAGE TOWN

The history of the township dates to 13th century AD. Though evolved as a modest market harbour town, it became the hub of economic and political activities with the years. The heritage of the township, with its unique and strong linkages to various cultures, plays a crucial role in communicating the diverse social fabric and vernacular footprint.

Due to urbanisation and improper conservation, the town is in a state of urban decay today. The history of spice trade and the power of architectural spaces in Mattancherry provide potent images of marvellous urban typology from the past. The vernacular buildings of Mattancherry offer countless opportunities for adaptive re-use, according to Mr Asif R. Khan, Assistant Professor, MES School of Architecture. “It is high time to combat urban decay, to formulate town planning legislation with respect to revitalisation and guide future development of this heritage town,” says the Master Plan, which envisages specific proposals for the re-use, re-development and regeneration of the heritage-built environments.

The plan proposes creating an urban square adjoining Jew Street, the famous trading walkway of Mattancherry.

ARCHITECTURAL NATURE

It will serve as a major open space, which would encourage interactions, a spine that defines the architectural character. The plan has also come out with specific proposals for renovating and restructuring Bazaar Road, which was once the bustling market place of the region, and the connects Fort Kochi to Mattancherry.

The urban morphology along Bazaar Road is the result of trade activities that took place along the backwaters. Dutch Palace, yet another major attraction of the township, was originally built by the Portuguese in 1557 AD, and later given to the Cochin Royal Dynasty. The palace now functions as a Museum of the Archaeological Survey of India. The proposed development and landscape treatments of the compound premises of the palace is meant to create a new potential inflow of tourists, and rejuvenate the residents of the town to utilise the space as a recreational area.

The plan also calls for renovation of the existing boat jetty and beautification of the adjoining park, conservation of the Coonen Cross Church, a religious monument having great significance to Christianity, and the Black Synagogue — a religious structure of the Jewish community. It also suggests measures for development and beautification of the Manthra Canal, the peripheral areas of which are in a neglected state.

Keywords: Mattancherry, Kochi, Master Plan, Fort Kochi, Bazaar Road, Dutch Palace, Cochin Royal Dynasty

The Hindu         25.11.2011

Master Plan for Mangalore revised

Raviprasad Kamila

Sanction for many building plans becomes invalid if work has not been started

Zonal regulations of Master Plan II for Mangalore Local Planning Area have been revised again for the second time.

The Government issued a notification to this effect on October 26, 2011.

The notification is likely to land persons who have obtained licence from Mangalore Urban Development Authority and Mangalore City Corporation for constructing buildings but have not begun work.

It was because such persons would have to obtain “fresh sanction'' as per the revised regulations as old ones would become null and void.

A clause in the notification (S.No. 12 , Page 19), a copy of which is available with The Hindu , reads: “Only authorised buildings constructed/commenced prior to coming into force of these regulations shall be treated as existing buildings.

“If the construction of a building has not commenced at the time of coming into force of these regulations, even though sanctioning for construction was availed under any previous provisions of the zonal regulations, such construction shall commence only after getting fresh sanction under these regulations.''

No apartments

A prominent addition in the revised regulations was that it had banned constructing apartments on plots abutting roads which were less than six metres wide.

A clause to this effect had been added under “setbacks” category (Page 29, No. 4). It reads: “Apartment buildings shall not be permitted on plots abutting roads of existing width less than six metres.''

Parking

Another main addition was regarding parking facility in non-residential buildings. A new clause (S. No. 19.9, page 42) has been added in “parking requirements category”.

Accordingly, in non-residential buildings (read as commercial) if parking space was not enough “the owner of the plot may pay the local authority” parking fees for shortage of parking of the requirement. The local authority should use it for constructing multi-level car parking facility “in the vicinity”.

Under the revised norms, the definition of high-rise building has been changed. Any building having a height of 15 metres and above comes under the high-rise category.

S. No. 13 (Page 19) under “land use zones” makes it clear that in Coastal Regulatory Zone areas the uses permissible under the CRZ regulations shall be applicable irrespective of the land use prescribed in the Master Plan. This aspect was not clear in the first revision.

Some changes (page no. 21) have been made in floor area ratio of buildings.

The government revised the zonal regulations for the first time through a notification on May 5, 2011. The Master Plan II had come into effect from October 1, 2009.

The latest notification issued last month says the zonal regulations have been revised as Mangalore Urban Development Authority has proposed certain modifications. The regulations have been revised under Section 13-E of the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, 1961.

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