Apni Mandis – activating Leisure Valley with farmers’ markets and food security.
With the failure of large grocery stores in globalizing Chandigarh, Apni Mandis that enable residents to buy fresh, locally (nearby) produced food directly from farmers have become very successful. They are self-regulated and self-run, based on a rental economy, located in residual, inter-stitial spaces in the southern sectors of the city. Rather than obscure them [...]
View PostVikas Marg – a “Signature Street” for greater Chandigarh.
Chandigarh’s V2 were conceived in the master plan as high speed thoroughfares with commercial blocks on one side (north) and multi-level institutional buildings on the other (south). One of them, Vikas Marg, remains undeveloped, with most of the land owned by the city, save few pockets occupied by urban villages. An interstate bus terminus is [...]
View PostThe Case for a Chandigarh BRT
Vibrant, booming cities all over the world have turned to bus rapid transit in response to roadway congestion. Modern interiors and smart platforms serve millions of passengers each day while reducing vehicle miles travelled, improving mobility to all residents and providing rapid sub-regional transport. Flexible, quick to implement and cost-effective, BRT is the perfect match [...]
View PostWhat is an Apni Mandi?
The Leisure Valley was planned by Le Corbusier to provide one of four major functions; care of the body and spirit. It is meant to promote health and forms the lungs of the city. However, the park has not been used to its full potential and is gasping for a breath of fresh air. By [...]
View PostSector 17: Converting Green Wastelands into Multi-level Parking (working proposal)
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View PostSolutions to the Parking Problem: Residences
A previous post has described the increasing shortage of parking in Chandigarh. Although parking at the markets has seen the greatest amount of attention, parking in residential zones has also become problematic. With no clear parameters or standards, parking on residential streets has become chaotic. Often cars are left on sidewalks or in parks, detracting [...]
View PostSolutions to the Parking Problem: Markets
As observed in a previous post, the supply of parking spaces in Chandigarh is a growing concern among planners and residents. According to the Chandigarh Transport Administration, an estimated million cars drive the roads of Chandigarh daily. With 800,000 vehicles registered in the city, car parking is erratic, most drivers parking wherever they find space. On [...]
View PostThe Parking Problem
A necessary element of an auto-centric city is parking. Chandigarh’s master plan provides for parking nearly everywhere, from parks and schools to markets and houses. However, the daily influx of cars from outside the city and the high number of vehicles per household have resulted parking shortages in certain areas. Large market areas, such as [...]
View PostConnections: Rethinking Leisure Valley
Leisure Valley currently winds southwest from the Capitol Complex, through sectors 3, 10, 16, 23 and 36. What was intended as a continuous green belt through Chandigarh is now a segmented park, making it difficult to enjoy the Valley. The green spaces within the park are well-maintained and boast many types of flower gardens, tree [...]
View PostHow to Improve the Pedestrian Network?
Pedestrians are neglected in Chandigarh. The road system favors cars and faster moving traffic, and pedestrians often do without their own paved paths. The existing paths are often uneven, broken by trees, drainage, or fences. Pedestrians in the city often make their own paths, going the shortest distance, or making their own routes to avoid [...]
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