CASE STUDY ON URBAN PUBLIC SPACE

CONNAUGHT PLACE

MBS SCHOOL OF PLANNING

AND ARCHITECTURE

URBAN ISSUES - IV

ANOOP | ARJUN |HARSHIT

KANIKA| SAMRAT | SAUMYA

INTRODUCTION

PROJECT : INNER CIRCLE , CONNAUGHT PLACE

LOCATION : At center of the city, near Karol bagh
YEAR OF COMPLETION : work began in 1929 and was completed in 1933
F.A.R : 250
DESIGNED BY : Edwin Lutyen
PURPOSE : It was designed as a showpiece of Lutyens Delhi with a prominent
District.

Central Business

CONCEPT

Connaught Place is one of the largest financial, commercial and business centres in New Delhi. It is often abbreviated to CP.
It was developed as a showpiece of Lutyens Delhi with a prominent Central Business District.
The place was renamed as Rajiv Chowk after the death of great Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
It is the pride of Delhi having all the major and big names in its perimeter as their head office.
THE COMMERCIAL HUB Connaught Place was envisaged as a combination of commercial and residential buildings, modelled on
the Royal Crescent in Bath, England.
This was designed in shape of horseshoe to bring good luck to both shoppers as well as business owners as was and still is
commercial heart of the Delhi.
It depicts the style of British architecture which was very planned and well structured.
The plan was a two-storeyed open colonnaded structure where the ground floor would be taken up by commercial
establishments while the floor above would be given over to residents.
Connaught Place is circular and can easily be covered on foot. It also has about 7 different large roads leading out of it
connecting to various parts of the city.
The entire CP Area, with its roads, lanes and by-lanes is an exotic labyrinth with tons of shops tucked into nooks and corners,
delicious old eating joints and exquisite Indian handicraft and traditional clothes and jewellery shops.
1930s

1970s

1. SHIVAJI STADIUM

SITE SURROUNDINGS

10.STATE TRADING
CORPORATION

SITE

9. BARAKHAMBA ROAD

2. BANGLA SAHIB GURU

DWARA

6. LIC BUILDING
3. SANSAD BHAWAN

4. RASHTRAPATI BHAWAN

5. JANTAR MANTAR

8.JANPATH

7. INDIA GATE

SITE PLAN

PARKING

COMMERCIAL
BLOCK

CENTRAL PARK

COLONNADE
WALKWAY

GREEN BELT ON
TERRACE OF
PALIKA

PALIKA BAZAR

PARKING

AUTHORIZED PARKING

UNAUTHORIZED PARKING

UNAUTHORIZED 3 WHEELER PARKING

Connaught Place with its

three concentric circles
and seven radial roads
initially designed with
two-way directional
roads.

All place around the metro stations is occupied my 3 wheelers

Was converted into oneway with 4-enteries and
3-exits

A number of parking lots

were also generated to
serve those through

SPACES
The form and enclosure of each space in a building either determines, or is determined by, the form of the spaces around it.
The architecture of space

organizational pattern, relationships, clarity, hierarchy

formal image and spatial definition

qualities of shape, colour, texture, scale, proportion

qualities of surfaces, edges, and openings

COVERED SPACES

SEMI-OPEN SPACES

OPEN SPACES

1. TOILETS

1. COLLONADES WALKWAY

1. ROADS

2. METRO STATIONS

2. PATHWAYS

3. SHOPS/BLOCKS

3. CENTRAL PARK
4. HALKERS
5. PARKING

COVERED SPACES

1. TOILETS

2. METRO
STATION

3. SHOPS

SEMI-OPEN SPACES

OPEN SPACES

CENTRAL PARK
(OPEN SPACE)

INTRODUCTION

Central Park(Central Recreation area) is situated aboveRajiv Chowk Metro Station.

The wholeConnaught place marketis layered around this Central Park.
This beautiful park provides the visitors whether single, couple or in family to sit, relax and enjoy the surroundings.
Thrown open to the public in 2006 after a gap of four years when the Delhi Metro Railway Corporation (DMRC) dug it up to
build a metro station it usually attracts big crowds, especially youngsters.
Earlier Central Park was not in good condition with inadequate lighting and generally unsafe at night.
After its re-development in 2005-06 by DMRC, Central Park in Connaught Place has become one of the main attractions of
the city with citizens and tourists can be seen in large numbers.
Very well-known in Delhi, Central Park has been a centre for cultural events since a very long time. Inside the Central Park,
we can see soft lights all around, water flowing and in fountains and people with families roaming around.
A 350 chair amphitheatre, lighting style all over (CFL's) that make sure that every area of the park has mild, 4 water
systems and plenty of water fountains, a water stream, lavish natural lawn all over, plenty of different plants from all over;
overall a awesome location to relax after some stressful purchasing in Connaught Position.
The atmosphere in and around Central Park is very pleasing.
Outside the Central Park there is inner lane surrounded with branded stores and large number of shoppers while inside the
Central Park there is peaceful atmosphere with lush green stand and people relaxing there.

DEVELOPED
SPACE

TYPE OF SPACES

Enough wide pathways are provided for

people to walk which is sufficient for the
heavy footfall at peak time

Trees are provided at the periphery of the site

In evening hours people prefer sitting in
that encourages people to sit and relax under
the center of the whole complex to enjoy
them in excessive sunlight
the skyline .

Amphitheatre is occupied by the people in the evening hours to enjoy the surrounding activities

UNDEVELOPED
SPACE

Previous image fountains

Present situation of fountains

Present situation of water Chann

Previous image of water channel

FORMAL ACTIVITY WITHIN CENTRAL PARK

MORNING TIME

Central amphitheatre is not

utilized
in the morning time due to
harsh sunlight

EVENING TIME

People sitting on the sloped green

Cleaning of waste in morning time
Central amphitheater completely
patch just opposite to the
occupied by the people
amphitheater.

College students practicing Visitors resting under Trees shed to People use to click pics of their
avoid harsh sun.
own
singing
and surrounding

People doing morning walk

Cleaning of organic waste during

twice
in a week

Very less activity seen near

periphery due to less light

Very less activity seen near

periphery due to less light

People wants to sit near water

body during night time

EVENTS

The bsf band performing during the great

Indian police band show

Daksh band performing at central park

Solid Solar lights solar lamps at Central Park

to
mark Earth Hour

Stage performance, youth festival

Independence day celebration

Picture perfect Delhi exhibition

Indias First Pan-Indian Photography Festival

Exhibition of the united buddy bears

Children at "Green Mela"as a part of Greenathon

FORMAL ACTIVITY WITHIN CENTRAL PARK

Informal vendors come in the morning at

6am
and stay there till mid night.

People come here to promote their

commercial
brands as there is a much larger crowd.

PDA- Connaught places central park is increasingly becoming a hangout spot for young couples where they get cosy, without

As vendors are not allowed in the

premises of central park so they
come inside by jumping the railing
illegally.
Activities of the vendor varies during different times of the day.

PROS

The park is hygienically maintained withNDMC worker collects Organic waste in weekly
proper gardening.
intervals due to which surrounding remains
clean.

Signages are present to restrict the nonpermitted activities.

Central amphitheater is a view point to

beautiful skyline of Connaught place.

Proper drainage is provided along the

pathways.

Dustbins are kept at regular intervals due to

which the whole place remains clean

Collection of waste of the whole day in the

morning time to maintain cleanliness.

Signages are present at regular intervals

to direct the path

PROS

The whole park is accessible to physically handicapped people by the use of ramps wherever there are changes
within levels.

The place has India's largest flag which is a center of attraction for the passer-by visitors along
inner circle.

CONS

The enlightment of lights during the

daytime when it is not required resulting
in wastage of electricity

Due to couples activities in the park it

restricts the family crowd to some extent.

Improper lighting at the periphery of the

site raises the issue of security.

The water body provided in the premises

is not functional and under-maintained.

At some places the lights are not

functional which leads to dark

The entries leading to metro station are

not functional.

The central amphitheater is not provided with shade which restricts its use in the morning and afternoon hours.

ACTIVITIES
FORMAL ACTIVITIES

RETAIL SHOPS
all showrooms, in the inner circle
RAHAGIRI
every Sunday morning

RETAIL SHOPS

RAHAGIRI

RAAHGIRI
(FORMAL ACTIVITY)

WHAT IS RAAHGIRI DAY?

Raahgiri Day is a street event which
provides citizens with the opportunity to
reclaim their streets, connect with their
community, celebrate their city and
therefore reclaim their lives.

ABOUT RAAHGIRI

Raahgiri Day is Indias first sustained car-free citizen initiative that began in Gurgaon on Nov 17, 2013.

It was not long thereafter that this weekly event that closes streets to cars in the name of sustainable and active transport
arrived in the worlds second largest city New Delhi.

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) together with the New Delhi Police Department took the lead in hosting car-free Sundays
in the inner circle of New Delhis Connaught Place each week, beginning 13th July 2014.

On 12th July, 2015, this movement completed one year in Connaught Place. Moving from a turnout of 5000 people, on first Raahgiri
in Connaught Place, to 20,000 people today, and expanding to Dwarka, Rohini & East Delhi areas in Delhi, the movement has
shown a tremendous growth.

This has also started New Delhi on an important path towards combating air pollution and improving public health, and moved all
of India one step closer towards being an exemplar of sustainable urban development for other emerging economies.

The people waiting in queues to rent a cycle for free to ride, stages had been setup around which dance and other fitness activities
were in full swing, open air gyms and areas for playing football were marked on the street and people could be seen engrossed in
loads of other activities.

5 KEY VALUES OF RAAHGIRI DAY

Every Sunday for 4-5 hours in the morning, the
organizers ensure that the 5 key values of the
movement are intact and the Raahgiri zone is left
in a state such that
1. EVERYONE IS INVITED
Everyoneand we mean everyone from
the young to the old and wise, from well-off
gated communities to villages of Delhi, from
abled to differently abled, From all shapes
and sizes and from all levels of physical
fitness. Raahgiri Day aims to promote a
healthy lifestyle and encourage the masses
to get out and walk, bike, skate or dance for
a few hours.

AROUND THE INNER CIRCLE TO EXPLORE THE HUB OF ACTIVITIES

THE PLACE HAD BEEN TRANSFORMED.

2. CREATE A SENSE OF WONDER

Activities along the route invite people to
try new things, from Walking, Running,
Cycling and Skating to Nukkad natak,
Singing, Yoga . Its a chance to engage in
new experiences or return to those we
havent made time for since our early
youth.
3. HUMAN-POWERED AMUSEMENT
All activities are human-powered. In a world
filled with video-games, augmented reality
and unlimited digital screens, its important
to return to the simple life every now and
then. Raahgiri Day celebrates old times
Entertainment, such as roller skating,
skateboarding, dancing and even fingerpainting.
4. PARTICIPATE IN BETTER HEALTH
This event is certainly not all about biking.
Attendees are encouraged to participate in
healthy activities of all kinds, from highly
intense Zumba to pure street games or
Yoga.

FROM 3 YEAR OLDS TO 80 YEAR OLDS, EVERYONE SEEMED TO

BEING PART OF THIS FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND EVENT IN THE CITY.

BEFORE STARTING THE EVENTS ( RAHAGIRI ) DELHI POLICE

CLOSED ALL ENTRIES AND EXIT OF INNER CIRCLE.

TYPE OF ACTIVITIES IN RAAHGIRI

PEOPLE WAITING FOR THEIR TURN

FOR HIRING
CYCLES DURINGRAAHGIRI DAY

GYM AREA DURINGRAAHGIRI DAY

CYCLISTS DURINGRAAHGIRI DAY

STAY FIT- THAT'S THE MANTRA BY

REEBOK ON RAAHGIRI DAY

BADMINTON ONRAAHGIRI DAY

A STAGE DANCE-AEROBATICS
PRACTICE.RAAHGIRI DAY

WE DANCE, YOU DANCE, STAY FIT BY

TIMES OF INDIA ONRAAHGIRI DAY

YOGA ON RAAHGIRI

VENDORS ARE NOT ALLOWED

DURING RAAHGIRI

INNER CIRCLE

PARKING AREA IN FRONT OF EACH

BLOCK

INFORMAL MARKET IN FRONT OF

PALIKA BAZAR

INNER CIRCLE ROAD

RAOD BETWEEN TWO BLOCKS

WEEKDAYS & SATURDAY

SUNDAY (RAAHGIRI)

ACTIVITIES
1
INFORMAL ACTIVITIES

MARKET IN FRONT OF PALIKA ENTRANCE GATES

OPEN SPACES ADJACENT TO PARKING

permanent vendors, hawkers

VENDORS AND HAWKERS AT THE EXITS OF TWO

BLOCK

MARKET IN BETWEEN THE TERRACE OF PALIKA

SEMI-COVERED SPACES (COLONNADE WALKWAY)
permanent vendors, hawkers, nomadic

2
5

FOOTFALL
VISITORS REVIEWS AT CENTRAL PARK

FOOTFALL ACCORDING TO AGE

GROUP

1. GROUP OF FRIENDS: It is nice and happening place for enjoying

nature, crowd and an evening tea. CP needs a lot of walking, after
which one can sit and relax in this park. The big Indian flag doubles
the attraction of this park.

The foot fall of people comes here is 2-to81 of age group.

Mainly age group of 18-to-28 come for
shopping and hanging out with their friend
circle.
Age group of 29-to-35 come with their
families or office group.
Age group of 36-to-55 come either for
lunch in afternoon or after 5:00 p.m.
( which closing time of offices )

2.
Q.
A.
Q.
B.

SHOPKEEPER (PALIKA BAZAAR):

what is their purpose of visiting this place?
I come to walk here in the evening for some refreshment.
How often he visit here?
Whenever I get some free time I come here for a small walk.

3. FOREIGN VISITOR : nice place to sit and relax after shopping.

VISITORS REVIEWS AT INNER CIRCLE

4. TEENAGER: A beautiful and calm place in the heart of the national

capital. Perfect place to spend a couple of hours with friends on a
cool evening One can enjoy the beauty of full Connaught place.

NAME

AGE

BELONGING
PLACE

REVIEWS

Apoorva

28

Hyderabad

Every time I am in Delhi, I am drawn again and again

back to Connaught Place.

Hitesh and Gunjan (couple)

32 , 34

Chandigarh

Good Food, Nice Crowd

Simran

26

Gurgaon

Group of college friends

19-21

Delhi, Gurgaon,
Noida

Stieve

35

Texas, USA

Aharon and Micha (couple)

31 , 30

Israel, middle
east

Shakuntla and Sapna

51 , 53

Delhi

Delhi heart( My favourite place in Delhi)

Fab place to hang around
Just a shopping area, western style
Good Crowd! Flee Market, Keep walking you won't feel
bored as this place is full of eatery and many more!
We use to walk along to window shop after office
hours, it works as our exercise

PURPOSE OF THE SPACES

INTENDED USE
THIS SPACE WAS DESIGNED
FOR THE VISITORS TO SIT
AND TAKE REST.

THIS SPACE WAS DESIGNED

FOR THE VISITORS
MOVEMENT.

THIS SPACE WAS DESIGNED

FOR THE VISITORS TO SIT
AND TAKE REST.

ACTUAL USE
THIS SPACE IS NOT BEING
PROPERLY UTILISED BY THE
VISITORS BECAUSE OF HIGH
SUN RAYS FALLING IN THAT
AREA.

THIS SPACE IS MOSTLY

COVERED BY THE HALKERS
THUS NARROWING THE WAY
AND LEAVING LESS SPACE
FOR THE MOVEMENT OF THE
VISITORS.

THE LEFT SPACE BETWEEN

THE BENCHES IS USED FOR
PARKING BY THE PEOPLE
THUS BLOCKING THE WAY.

PURPOSE OF THE SPACES

INTENDED USE
THIS SPACE WAS DESIGNED
FOR PROVIDING GREENERY
IN THE VICINITY.

THIS SPACE WAS DESIGNED

FOR THE AUTHORIZED
PARKING AND THE
VEHICULAR MOVEMENT.

THIS SPACE WAS DESIGNED

PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENT
AND VEHICULAR
MOVEMENT
SIMULTANEOUSLY.

ACTUAL USE
THIS SPACE IS BEING USED
FOR THROWING GARBAGE
AND ALL THE WASTE.

THIS SPACE FOR VEHICULAR

MOVEMENT IS ALSO
BLOCKED BY THE VISITORS
AND THE STAFF SUCH THAT
THERE IS NO SPACE FOR
VEHICULAR MOVEMENT.

LOT OF HUSTLE BUSTLE IS

CREATED BETWEEN THE
PEDESTRIANS AND THE
VEHICLES WHICH ARE
MOVING.

PURPOSE OF THE SPACES

INTENDED USE
THIS SPACE WAS DESIGNED
FOR MOVEMENT OF THE
PEDESTRIANS.

THIS SPACE WAS DESIGNED

FOR VEHICULAR
MOVEMENT.

ACTUAL USE
THIS SPACE FOR MOVEMENT
IS ALL COVERED BY THE
HALKERS SUCH THAT NO OR
VERY LESS SPACE FOR
MOVEMENT IS LEFT.

ALL THE SPACES AROUND

THE METRO STATIONS AND
THE MARKET AREA IS TAKEN
BY THE 3 WHEELERS THUS
MAKING THE SPACE
CONJUSTED.

ANALYSIS
PROS

GREAT LIGHTING AT NIGHT

Lighting plays a major roll over here. At night Connaught place is still colorful and shining. As this site is present in the
center of Delhi anyone can come any time and no one feel any type of fear.

ANALYSIS
PROS

BETTER THAN MALL HOPPING

SOCIAL-CULTURAL-PLATFORM

LEISURE

ENTERTAINMENT

METRO

RETAIL

UNIQUE ARCHITECTURE STILL MAINT

CENTRAL PARK GENERATES LOT OF PUBLIC INTEREST AND THUS DRAWS LARGE
NUMBER OF VISITORS.
MORE VISITORS => MORE CONSUMERS => MORE REVENUE

ANALYSIS
CONS

INADEQUATE PARKING
FACILITIES

TRAFFIC CONGSTION

DRUG ADDICT

NO COMFORTABLE
CONNECTION BETWEEN
TWO BLOCKS

LACK OF PUBLIC CONCERNS AND

RESPONSIBILITY

NO PEDESTRAIN LINK
BETWEEN CENTRAL
PARK AND RETAIL SHOPS

PARKING TILL EDGE OF THE

WLKWAYS

LACK OF STREET FURNITURE FOR THE CONTRAST IN UTILIZATION OF

PUBLIC
CORNER SPACES

CONCLUSIONS
AT CP INNER CIRCLE:
1. Red lights should be located at each zebra crossing for allowing the pedestrian friendly crossing.
2. Outside metro station entry/exit gates, there is an informal parking of auto rickshaws which leads to
traffic congestion, so to avoid formal auto/taxi stand should be allocated near it.
3. Parkingshould be relocated into the new underground parking garages. One row of on-street parking
could be allowed but charged high, and the revenue used for street improvements and maintenance.
4. Street and pavement space reclaimed from cars should be replaced by well designedHawker
Zones.Hawkers will make the area lively even after darkwhen offices and retailers in the area
have shut down and only cultural centers are active. It will make the area vibrant, safe and active
round the clock.

AT CENTRAL PARK:
5. The direct entries from central park to Rajiv chowk metro station should be accessible to avoid the
congestion at peak hours outside road where there are entry/exit points.
6. All areas should be well lit.
7. Some shade should be provided in the center to invite people in the central amphitheater in morning
and afternoon hours.
8. Informal eatery kiosks should be setup inside the premises to invite crowd towards central park and to
cater the existing crowd.