RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT

Development happen along the Periphery of river for the demand of urbanizing cities with the mission to rejuvenate the life of river and maintain a healthy aesthetics for cities. In Riverfront development activities include Recreational and commercial space for people-centric network of parks, waterside promenades, markets, sports facilities, cultural and recreational facilities in the heart of City, making the city’s riverfront a public asset.

Some of the benefits from Riverfront development are

Beautification of city – City facing or surrounded with River has settlements around it from older times, as we receive fertile land, various flora and fauna and water to survive, in developing countries these settlements seems out of fashion, have poor maintenance. Which leads Urban planners to beautify the surroundings in more developed and equipped way, cities are now imagined.

Community culture and quality of life enhances – Theme parks, plazas, open air theaters allow people to engage, set up meetings and discussions which empowers relations and engagement between people. Allow Shows and gatherings to take place through which economic benefits happen.

Creation of Green belt in the city – Green belts are like protectors for cities, not only add on to aesthetics, because of green belts cities have cleaner air and water, better land use of area, protects natural and semi natural environments. Riverfront rehabilitation and rejuvenation began in several cities around the world, with urban planners aiming to restore the rivers as a vital part of each city.

Designing with water requires many safety precautions to keep, as it get flooded in rainy season. It is advised to keep 75 feet distance from river called as Buffer zone, where no construction / planning is done, native plants and trees can thrive there. Some of the examples of Indian riverfront development are

Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project, Gujrat

Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project of Ahmedabad city, which is presented as a pioneer in urban transformation has been proposed by Environmental Planning Collaborative (EPC), an Ahmedabad-based urban planning consultancy firm, in 1997 and envisaged to develop a stretch of 10.4 km of the banks on both sides of the river by creating concrete embankment walls on both banks with walkways, laying water supply lines and trunk sewers, building pumping stations, and developing gardens and promenades. Mainstay of the project was the sale of riverfront property. Land along the 10.4 km stretch on both the banks was reclaimed by constructing retaining walls of height ranging from 4 to 6m. 21% of the 185 ha of reclaimed land which was developed by concretizing the river bank was sold to private developers for commercial purpose. Activities hosted on this reclaimed land were recreational and commercial activities like restaurants, shops, waterfront settlements, gardens, walkways, amusement parks, golf course, water sports and some for public purpose like roads etc. Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) claims that after the project “river has added vibrancy to the urban landscape of Ahmadabad with its open spaces, walkways, well-designed gardens along with activities which contribute to economic growth.” The developers’ priorities included the rehabilitation of the slums, thereby eliminating the unsanitary living conditions of residents. Apartment complexes now house those that lived there. The next step was the rehabilitation of the Dhobis, offering them modernized facilities for washing.

Some of the question arise as we dig deep into riverfront development, is there any sustainable way to develop riverfront development, which creates harmony with the nature and beings around.

In the process of Development, Seasonality of the river is destroyed and flora fauna on edges have been damaged. This isn’t one example for Riverfront development, Development with nature requires sustainable ways in which the originality of space is kept as is, this is the duty or responsibility of us as Architects and Planners. By undertaking these long-term riverfront development projects, urban planners and local governments are taking back control of their riverfronts. Their efforts have resulted in the economic and social upliftment of the community and emphasized the need for sustainable development and environmental preservation.