PREPARING TRANSFORMATION FOR

A H I G H W A Y T O B U S I N E S S D I S T R I C T

T

EDAPPALLY VYTTILLA NH BYEPASS

A study prepared by

C . A . R . U . S Centre for Advanced Research in Urban Studies

An initiative of KUDS (Kerala Urban Development

Society), an NGO formed by a set of City

Enthusiasts, belonging to various backgrounds

such as Law, Urban planning, Engineering, Finance

etc. who aspire to collaborate and contribute to

the Kochi city's development and find answers to

its unresolved issues.

STUDY TEAM Kenny P. Joy, Urban Designer - Planner

Sooraj Sasikumar, Urban Finance specialist

Mohammed Harsh, Urban planner Intern

SUPPORTING TEAM Kiranjith Sivavalsan

Abraham Vatakkumcherry

Jacob George

Shalik Mustafa

CONTENTS

Context

Change & Transformation

Preparing for the future

THE

CONTEXT

Post independence, the city of Kochi grew

eastward to the mainland of Ernakulum from the

water surrounded Fort Kochi and Mattancherry

owing to space constraints.

City witnessed formation of urban centres at

multiple locations within the mainland like M.G

Road, Shanmugham road and Kaloor.

By 1990s, National Highway 47 bye pass was

developed as a four laned highway bye passing

the CBD so that the intra state traffic escaped

the congested core city.

The city with an ever growing economic

activities within the core area started expanding

far and wide. Lack of space in the core area

made many big corporate to relocate

themselves into a much more open and

accessible bye pass stretch.

The location of the city gave a big advantage of

locating closer to the huge suburb in the east,

north and south of the city.

THE

CHANGE

A highway with a few

houses and hotels eventually is turning

into a high street with

malls, high end retail

shops offices, hotels,

eateries and a few residential towers.

The place went

through a drastic

change and transformation – in the

predominant activity,

building types and the character.

THEN

N

OW

FU

TUR

E

• Low building

density

• Deserted road

• Low traffic

volume

• Increased traffic

volume

• New Malls,

hotels and offices

• Car showrooms

and brand shops

•Increased traffic

volume

• Active street

• High pedestrian

density

• High retail

activities

2002

2006

2010

2014

TRANSFORMATION

STAGE 1 – BEAUTIFICATION As one its kind attempt in the state, the corporates & Institutions along the road joined hands under

the leadership of Kochouseph Chittilappally, V Guard, to elevate the highway into a much more

beautiful public space in a self build & maintain system.

A great initiative towards better city building through private - public participation as well as a

model of maintaining city by lending a better sense of ownership to those who occupy the space

around the public space.

PREPARING FOR THE

FUTURE As usual, our cities hardly foresee the development well in advance to make an

infrastructural change or addition, but end up realising the issue when it is too late

and complicated to handle.

The NH bye pass is one which is its prime phase of transformation and one in which a

restructuring for the future can be handled with ease.

MALLS OFFICES

HOTELS BARS & PUBS RETAILS SHOPS

BO

UTI

QU

ES

ENTERTAINMENT CENTRES

RESTAURANTS

AUTO- SHOWROOMS SERVICE CENTRES

CA

FES

SALOONS STREET VENDORS

Shopping Cycling Meditate Meeting Jogging Office Eatery Walking

PREPARING FOR TRANSFORMATION STAGE 2 – Redefining When the street transforms completely into a high activity

commercial zone, the pedestrian level of activity will be high,

demanding a need for redefining the existing beautified

highway into a pedestrian oriented active public realm through

a restructuring of the road section as well as provision of

facilities for pedestrians. The proposed BRTS public transit system

which will connect Edappally and Vyttilla Metro stations on this

stretch need to be integrated into this road section.

SHADE

TREES

STREET

LIGHT

STREET

LIGHT

STREET

ACITIVITIES

STREET

AMENITIES

STREET

FURNITURE

EXISTING CROSS SECTION

TYPICAL CROSS SECTION

BRTS STATION CROSS SECTION

SCHEMATIC PLAN

MAINTAINING THE STREET

MAINTENANCE SYSTEM

A city is always remembered for its public spaces and how well they are maintained. A

Well maintained public spaces attract more public than any other, especially when the street offers other activities like shopping, relaxing, meeting, eating etc. Being a part of

high value street always renders the establishments on the street with a high value

address. Why not make use of this opportunity?

The our authorities have miserably failed in maintaining our public spaces.

The current system of maintenance along the NH Bye pass where corporates located

along the stretch contribute to the up keeping of the public realm (thereby adding

value to the space they are part of) through formation of well equipped waste

management teams can be most effective way of keeping this restructured public

space maintained forever.

I d e a s f o r a b e t t e r c i t y

An Initiative by

KERALA URBAN DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY