Jama Masjid Road Precinct -...
Transcript of Jama Masjid Road Precinct -...
INCEPTION REPORT12 COPIES Date of Submission: 30/04/2010
Client: Mumbai Metropolitan Region – Heritage Society (MMR-HS) Consultant: Urban Space Consultants Pvt. Ltd.
Jama Masjid Road Precinct TASK IV
Preparation of Action Plan for conservation of Jama Masjid Road Precinct, Kalyan
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 JAMA MASJID ROAD PRECINCT, KALYAN ................................................................................................ 3 1.1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 3 1.2. REGIONAL CONTEXT ............................................................................................................. 5 1.3. TECHNO-LEGAL CONTEXT ..................................................................................................... 6 1.4. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE ................................................................................................... 8 1.5. GROWTH PATTERN AND LAND USE ..................................................................................... 10 1.6. BUILT FORM AND SETTLEMENT PATTERN ............................................................................ 11 1.7. ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER .............................................................................................. 13
1.7.1. Sloping Roofs .......................................................................................................... 15 1.7.2. Street Profile ........................................................................................................... 15 1.7.3. Windows ................................................................................................................ 16 1.7.4. Sit-out and Verandahs ............................................................................................. 16
1.8. STRUCTURAL CHARACTER ................................................................................................. 16 1.9. SOCIO-CULTURAL CHARACTER........................................................................................... 17 1.10. A NOTE ON OWNERSHIP ................................................................................................. 18 1.11. A NOTE ON PRESENT PRECINCT BOUNDARY ..................................................................... 19
2.0 RECONNAISSANCE SURVEY & CONSULTATIONS .................................................................................. 20 3.0 DETAILED METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................... 21 4.0 NEXT STEPS ........................................................................................................................................... 24 5.0 REFERENCES .......................................................................................................................................... 26
ANNEXURES Annexure 1: Jama Masjid Road within the Development Plan of Kalyan…………………………………………………..27 Annexure 2: Jama Masjid Road: Development Constraints……………………………………………………………………….28 Annexure 3: Historical Buildings in the Vicinity of Jama Masjid Road………………………………………………………..29 Annexure 4: Land Use and Street Profile..………………………………………………………………………………………………..30 Annexure 5: Site Plan and Images …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….31
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1.0 JAMA MASJID ROAD PRECINCT, KALYAN
1.1. INTRODUCTION
The Jama Masjid Road precinct is located in what is known as ‘Old Kalyan’,
located on the Eastern bank of the Ulhas River and about 48 kms toward the
North-East of Mumbai. The precinct is located close to the Durgadi Fort, a
historically significant fortified structure built on top of a hillock. The old Agra
Road linking Kalyan with the Eastern Expressway, which connects Mumbai
with the bulk of Maharashtra state, enters Kalyan at the Durgadi Fort, and is
thus at a very short distance from the precinct. The precinct is thus at an
advantageous location, on the outskirts of Old Kalyan and easily accessible
from Thane and Mumbai.
While the larger area of ‘Old Kalyan’ is nebulously defined but clearly
understood by the local population, Jama Masjid Road is considered to be the
heart of Kalyan city, marking its origins in a fishing village on the banks of the
Ulhas River and its historical function as a strategic transition point between
the marshy islands of Mumbai and the Western Ghats.
The precinct name actually indicates an approximately 380 metre long street –
half of it called Laxmi Narayan Road and the other half (between Agiary Road
and Dudh Naka) called Jama Masjid Road – running in an East to West
direction from a T-intersection known as Dudh Naka to the banks of the Ulhas
River. The prominent presence of the Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque) has given
the popular name to this street.
Jama Masjid
Dudh NakaPhalke Wada
Dolare House
Fangari House
Customs Old Office
Ulhas River
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The Dudh Naka Ward of Kalyan (Ward C) – the immediate socio-political
context of the precinct – is part of an area delineated as ‘Congested Area’ in
the Draft Development Plan for Kalyan prepared by the Kalyan Dombivli
Municipal Corporation (KDMC) in 2001. (Refer Annexure 1: Jama Masjid Road
within the Development Plan of Kalyan.) This ‘congested area’ is bounded by a
number of well-known streets: the Agra Road on the North, the Rambhau
Patwardhan Road to the East, the Memon Masjid Provincial Road on the
South and a number of small roads, such as Ghatti Road and Anna Saheb
Vartak Road on the West along the riverside.
The Jama Masjid Road precinct, as presently defined, is closely connected with
the cultural richness of the larger ‘congested area’, which is evident from the
variety of active public places and the place names in the vicinity. The precinct
has a number of important public places such as the Kokani Tank and Shankar
Temple, the Dawaje Tank, the Shenale Tank and the Subhash Stadium. There
is an innate cultural significance in the ‘chowks’ named after persons who are
closely associated with the history of the locality, such as the Gafur Don
Chowk, Ansari Chowk, Mahavir Prabhu Chowk, the Vaidhya Chowk, and
others.
The future of the Jama Masjid Road precinct is intimately connected with the
future of the ‘congested area’, which is replete with built structures, open
spaces and public places that are representative of Kalyan’s lengthy history. It
is likely that the heritage action plan, and the delineation of the precinct, will
respond to this context. The KDMC’s Vision 2020, as defined in the City
Development Plan (2006), is to become ‘An Ecofriendly, High-Tech, Cultural
City’. The Jama Masjid Road precinct and Old Kalyan as a whole are integral to
achieving this vision.
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1.2. REGIONAL CONTEXT
The geographical coordinates of the Jama Masjid Road precinct are
approximately at 19°N Latitude and 73°E Longitude.
Kalyan is located in Thane district to the north of Brihan Mumbai (Greater
Mumbai) and is catching up with the growth rate of Thane city, one of
Mumbai’s most important eastern suburbs. It is surrounded by the rapidly
developing Municipal Corporations of Thane, Bhiwandi, Ulhasnagar and Navi
Mumbai. The total area of Kalyan–Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) is
67.65 sq.kms and the municipal area is divided into 7 administrative wards
and 107 electoral wards. The Dudhnaka ward is the immediate context of
Jama Masjid Road.
It has been envisaged that Kalyan Railway Station will be developed as a major
Railway Terminus to take the load off Mumbai’s overburdened rail network.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is
planning to build a Monorail corridor on connecting Thane, Bhiwandi and
Kalyan. There is also a larger multi-modal corridor, containing 4-lane
expressway and rail-based system that will connect Virar, Vasai, Diva,
Bhiwandi, Kalyan, Panvel and Alibaug. There is even a chance that Kalyan will
benefit directly from the development of Mumbai’s second international
airport. The location at Kopra-Panvel is currently under consideration.
However, there is a chance that the second choice under consideration, at
Kalyan-Newali, might become the preferred location.
The Jama Masjid Road precinct can benefit greatly from the emerging urban
and regional scenario unfolding in the Mumbai Metropolitan region. It can
emerge as a cultural hub in Kalyan, taking advantage of its strategic location,
its cultural richness and its architectural beauty.
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At the same time, its potential can also be undermined by the developmental
thrust that has emerged, towards greater utilization of land values and greater
suburbanization of all city areas. What is at the heart of urban Kalyan may
either emerge as a significant urban centre, or may be consumed by the real
estate explosion in the MMR.
1.3. TECHNO-LEGAL CONTEXT
The Draft Development Plan for Kalyan creates the techno-legal context for
the Jama Masjid Road precinct. As part of the Congested Area, it is subject to
the development regulations and provisions of the Development Plan. (The
status of the Plan provisions are not yet clearly defined, however, in
Annexure 2, ‘Jama Masjid Road: Development Constraints’, the interventions
planned in and around Jama Masjid Road, as per the Draft Development Plan,
are marked on a layout plan of the area, superimposed on a satellite image.
Several Development Plan provisions have a direct effect on the precinct. The
Coastal Regulation Zone, forbidding building activity along the Ulhas River,
forms the Western boundary of the precinct. In terms of physical
infrastructure, a proposed 30m road along the riverfront and a 12m road
Location of Jama Masjid Precinct in Kalyan
Jama Masjid Precinct
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width assigned for Laxmi Narayan Marg and Jama Masjid Road are the most
significant. In addition, there is a plan to develop a Municipal Market, a Study
Room, and several recreational land uses in the immediate vicinity of the
precinct.
As per the BPMC Act, KDMC is required to provide basic infrastructure and is
empowered to levy and collect taxes like octroi and property tax and user
charges for water supply, sewerage and fees on various other services.
Although not obligatory under BPMC Act, KDMC also runs a local transport
service, and operates and manages the local stadium and other public
facilities. These public facilities are the potential sites for Public-Private-
Partnership (PPP), especially as it might effect the heritage precinct. KDMC’s
poistive experience with private sector participation in solid waste
management demonstrates the potential of this model. The SWM system in
two of the 7 wards has already been privatised.
In the spirit of the 74th Amendment, the execution of a participatory and
citizen-led development process has been introduced. Citizens are becoming
increasingly more active in the day to day functioning of the Corporation.
Ward-level committees are being constituted to address this need.
Of the total capital investment being envisaged for the KDMC area in the next
decade, a bulk (73%) is going to be spent on roads, water supply and
sanitation schemes. A component of this spending will affect the built
envrionment of Jama Masjid Road, therefore it will be necessary to direct
attention to this issue. The precinct will also be affected by the Station Area
Development Scheme and various projects for parks & playgrounds and
schemes for beautification and preservation of lakes.
The Action Plan for Jama Masjid Road will have to address the technical and
financial aspects of development work that is on-going in its vicinity. As
already mentioned in the introduction, the existing and future provisions for
dealing with the ‘congested area’ will directly determine the fate of the
precinct.
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1.4. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The antecedents of the city of Kalyan lie in ancient times, as an important port
from the Gupta dynasty onwards. The entire region around Kalyan was under
the control of the Sultan of Bijapur during the 1500’s. Within a century, it
changed hands and the Mughal emperor Shah Jehan, fortified the city of
Kalyan. During British colonial rule, the rapid rise of Mumbai as the centre of
trade and commerce eclipsed the significance of coastal towns like Surat in
Gujarat and Kalyan in Maharashtra. However, in Post-Independence India,
Kalyan assumed importance as a junction on the Central Railway, marking the
meeting point of routes connecting to Pune, Nashik and Mumbai.
The resurgence of Kalyan as a centre of growth during the 21st century has
been triggered by the expansion of Mumbai into a metropolis during the
previous century. It has become an important satellite township for Mumbai,
providing it with services and educated, skilled, manpower. The twin city of
Kalyan – Dombivali has now emerged as one of the fastest growing urban
agglomeration in Maharashtra. Kalyan is even said to have become the second
cultural capital of Maharashtra, after Pune. The density of buildings of
architectural and socio-cultural importance has been indicated in Annexure 3
(‘Historical Buildings in the Vicinity of Jama Masjid Road’).
The historical significance of the Jama Masjid Road precincts is at two levels.
Firstly, it has an urban historical significance, as it marks the originating
settlement from where modern, ‘Industrial Age’ Kalyan emerged. The
centrality of the Ulhas river as the environmental context of the precinct, and
the heritage associated with the trades, businesses, communities and persons
associated with the movement of raw materials and supplies to feed the
metropolis. The specific East-West orientation of the street and its
architecture – terminating at one end at the port, and at the other end, at a
large public hub dominated by the Kokani Tank and the traffic roundabout
formed by Bazaar Peth Road, Maulana Azad Road and the Bapu Saheb
Phadake Road – suggest the scale of Kalyan’s urban origins. An uncovering of
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the pre-history of Jama Masjid Road, which in its present built-form is mostly
dominated by 19th and 20th century buildings, will probably reveal the
significance of the natural site along the river, with an agglomeration of
religious buildings including a mosque, a fire temple (agiary) and a temple.
The termination of the street at the bandar (port) is even acknowledged in the
local parlance, with Jama Masjid Road often referred to as ‘Bandar Road’.
The second level of significance arises from the architectural character of the
precinct and its urban context, and Jama Masjid Road in particular. The
architecture of the precinct belongs to an era that accompanied the industrial
growth of Mumbai in the late 19th and early 20th century. The importance of
the street is measured by the density of religious institutions within a fabric of
residential buildings and open spaces, and the way that these religious
structures alternately direct and follow the street network. The Parsi Agiary is
hidden from view behind the first line of buildings, whereas the masjid and
dargahs form the street edges. The fact that this was a primary community
axis is evidenced by the fact that commercial activity is limited and
fragmentary. The precinct encounters significant commercial development
only at Dudh Naka.
This residential and institutional street has a large number of examples of the
tropical urban vernacular that developed in the industrial age, with multiple
households living on small plots of land in a dense matrix of streets and open
spaces. The difference between prominent and wealthy families and the
average and ubiquitous dwelling unit are also visible. The fact that the wealthy
did not belong only to one community or practice a common trade is further
suggestion of the unifying criteria that made the urban life fundamentally
different from the agrarian, village-based life in which religion and community
were defining characteristics of the built form and culture of the local
population. The use of richer materials, ornamentation and grand proportions
are devices that set the wealthier apart from their contemporaries; however,
they could co-exist in the same space, as it were, sharing resources but
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without becoming homogenous and generic. Diversity in the architecture is a
reflection of the diversity of the local population.
1.5. GROWTH PATTERN AND LAND USE
The Jama Masjid Road precinct is undergoing rapid transformation, as old and
derelict buildings are being replaced with newer generic constructions. The
tendency of property owners is to maximise the growth potential on their
land, by raising the maximum storeys, usually 3 to 5 floors built with R.C.C.
framed structures and blank featureless walls. The tallest structures are newly
built apartments.
A mapping of the land use on the street has been represented in Annexure 4
(‘Land Use and Street Profile’). It has been indicated both in plan, showing the
individual plots and the land use on the ground floor, and has also been
represented in street elevations, showing the usage as per floors. The changes
in land use are not as rapid as might be expected in an urban context;
however, there is a replacement of the residential building stock itself.
Given the terminating conditions of the street – the riverfront is involved in
boat-building and dandy-mind activities, which do not intrude on the
residential street, whereas the eateries at Dudh Naka register crowds only
during the evening – there is very little thoroughfare, which creates a
disincentive for commercial establishments. The opening of offices, clinics and
such like uses that do not require major alteration of the built form suggest
that the street has the potential for renewal without complete
transformation. Presently, the street is able to accommodate the existing
traffic, which is sparse, two-way, and mainly pedestrian and two-wheeler.
The precinct faces significant pressure from two factors: unauthorized
additions, especially in the front porches and balconies, and the demand for
more car parking spaces. The covering and building upon of open spaces
within the plots is also a threat to the integrity of the precinct.
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The most significant transformation of the street is taking place because of the
proposed 12m width. Once an old building is demolished, the new building is
required to be set back from the original street edge. This poses a double
threat to the street; not only does the demolition of an old building mean that
the heritage property itself is lost, but even the morphology of the street is
radically altered. In such a situation, there is the threat of a complete erasure
of the heritage.
The required set back from the street edge has become operative in the plots
where new apartments have been constructed. If there is a reversal of this
development control, the widened street at these locations could provide the
required amount of parking. However, the organization and management of
such a parking system would be a challenge, as it would require a cooperative
framework to be agreed upon by the property owners. Defining the
appropriate uses for the front setback would be an important part of the
action plan, in the absence of which there is a threat of new encroachments
and expansions.
1.6. BUILT FORM AND SETTLEMENT PATTERN
The plots along the street are narrow and deep and most of them have houses
with sloping roofs. Many of the houses have a high plinth and the entrance is
through a sit-out/veranda. These verandas act as places for interaction
between the residents/occupants and the passers-by. Balconies of the first
floor also add to the interaction between the individual house and the street.
The built form varies between two basic types: the street-facing multi-
storeyed block, and the blocks that are behind the first line of buildings, where
the houses overlook individual or shared open spaces. Essentially, both
alternatives are derived from the basic architectural relationship between
built-form and open space.
Another characteristics of the built form comes from the settlement pattern,
whereby the street front provides access to other plots and clusters of plots
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immediately behind. Narrow lanes negotiate the gaps between old building
blocks to provide access to spaces and buildings at the rear. The street façade
is, therefore, regularly punctured. The distinction between individual blocks,
yet the maintenance of a street morphology, is a unique characteristic of the
Jama Masjid Road. It can be seen how the colonial form of urbanism prevalent
in the historic districts in Mumbai, which required unified and continuous
street facades, might have influenced this form of loose street formation. The
multivalency of the street – as a linear space connecting two spatial nodes, as
a space punctured by subsidiary movement patterns, as a bounded space with
interpenetration of open and closed spaces – contributes to the richness of
the architectural experience.
The architecture of the religious buildings that dot the landscape does not
presently contribute to the street experience as much as it can, partly
because, apart from the Jama Masjid, these are partly hidden by boundary
walls or set into the residential fabric behind the first line of buildings.
The built form is presently marred by inappropriate addtions and alterations
and the proliferation of cables suspened between the buldings and badly
placed street lights. Signages are in all variety of styles, although this may be
an element worth preserving; even by encouraging all properties to have
name plates.
The 21st century is amply evident through the presence of dish antennae and
air conditioning units spourting from roofs and facades. Windows have
become enclosed with box grills, and there is a profusion of rolling shutters
and sloping GI lean-to structures, especially on the Dudh Naka end of the
street.
Some of the gaps betwen buidings, which are not access points and do not
lead to spaces behind the buildings, have become dumping sites for waste. A
waste management strategy will be integral to the Action Plan. A strategy will
also have to be adopted to deal with the compulsory provision of rainwater
harvesting and groundwater recharge structures in each property. There is a
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possibility that, given the heritage character of the precinct, the KDMC can
allow for community-level water-harvesting systems.
A significant factor that will determine the shape of the Action Plan will be the
number of sites on which buildings have already been demolished and are
lying vacant. A stay on construction on these sites would be an important
interim measure. However, it would be important for the KDMC, the owners
and the local residents to work together to determine the land-use for those
plots.
1.7. ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
The most compelling characteristic of the precinct is the evidence of a large
number of buildings that bear marks of age and tradition.
It abounds with interesting architectural features such as timber pillars and
brackets, tall wooden windows, carved and painted decoration, fretwork, and
the sloping terracotta tiled roofs. The houses are built in various styles, partly
influenced by colonial architecture but more a result of the proliefration of the
visual language of architecture in the 19th and early 20th century in India,
VIEW OF STREET FROM DUDH NAKA END
VIEW OF STREET LOOKING TOWARDS THE BANDAR
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which produces a tropical vernacular of the coastal regions. These are mostly
two to three floored buildings, reminiscent of the late 19th and early 20th
century era of composite masonry, timber and concrete construction. The
buildings are built to deal with the climate, with deep overhangs to provide
shade, large openings to provide ventilation, and honprific public gestures like
the sit-outs at street level. The
perfection of technique that is
evident in some of the buildings also
show that a high level of
craftsmanship was available to the
builders of Kalyan during its
ascendance. (Whether the beautiful
ageing process that is manifest in
some of the distinctive houses should itself be preserved, will be an issue that
will be addressed at a later stage.)
The street itself has a distinct character, with minor undulations caused by
buildings laid along a notional straight line. Its ends are presently marked by
two structures. On the river side, by a small shop and residence, and on the
Dudh Naka, by an unused structure that has arches set squarely to face down
the street towards the river. It is almost as if at some point there must have
been a spectacular view of the river from
that vantage point.
The developments at the two ends of the
street are quite different. On the western
end, throughout Laxmi Narayan Road, there
is a larger concentration of buldings that still
retain their authenticity and their structural
integrity. There are fewer heritage
structures on the Jama Masjid Road, but
despite the mutilations of the facades and
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the additins and alterations, these buildings are still integral to the street
character.
The existence of several distinctive houses has already been recorded by
Sanjay Udamale in his report on heritage listing for MMR-HCS. The
architectural character of the street seems to have been modified
substantially from that recoreded iby him. However, the houses that have
been listed as heritage properties – Dolare House, Fangari House, Phalke
Wada –– are limited in number, and a more inclusive listing is required, that
also takes into account such gems as the Art Deco house at the corner of
Mohammad Hasan Tanki Marg. This house not been listed, but requires close
attention, as it is a superb rendition of the popularised version of the Art Deco
of the early 20th century.
DISTINCTIVE ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
1.7.1. Sloping Roofs
Te predominant type of roof is the tiled sloping
roof supported by a timber framework, often
with beautifully carved eavesboards. The
transformtion of the precinct is also marked by
the increasing prevalence of corrugated
asbestos and G.I. sheets as the roof finish.
However, the supporting framework in many
houses is in good state of preservation and
the roofs can be restored.
1.7.2. Street Profile
The changing street profiles along its short length are a distinctive feature of
Jama Masjid Road. The undulations in the street frontage are reflective of the
variety of responses to the national street edge that has been created over
time.
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1.7.3. Windows
A crucial feature of the houses is the variety of windows. These are usually
well cordinated with the structural grid of pillars and remarkable well-
proportioned and postioned on the facades. Many are elegant timber square-
frames with double shutters. These also accommodate shutters from floor to
sill level, which allow for enhanced ventilation when necessary and when
privacy allows. The glass in the windows is also of various types, from stained
glass to textured glass.
1.7.4. Sit-out and Verandas
The experience of the street is greatly enhanced by the sit-outs and verandahs
that face the street and form the common feature at the ground floor level.
These verandahs are integrated into the built mass of the house rather than as
portico additions to the main block, and they mark the transition and
threshold for the houses, which are usually raised on a substantial plinth. This
ubiquitous feature, which is retained in most houses despite additions and
alterations, also marks the continuance of the climatic conditions that make
such features practically desirable. The preservation of this feature would
therefore be a possible and desirable action in the precinct.
1.8. STRUCTURAL CHARACTER
Although an accurate statement about the structural character of the
buildings would be possible only after the detailed condition analysis (Stage
2), it is possible at this juncture to make broad observations.
The standard structural system is of the trabeated type; however, arches are
found in a lot of the buildings, more as ways to span openings rather than to
create the structure itself. It is evident that, as a supplier of raw materials to
Mumbai, builders in Kalyan also had the benefit of choice in terms of materials
of construction. Timber is used in many strcutures as the primary material,
whereas the use of reinforced concrete and pre-cast concrete elements is also
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widely observed. In both masonry-and-timber and masonry-and-concrete
structures, there is a prevalence of decorative features on columns, pillars,
capitals, bases, window surrounds, eaves and railings. The moulding of
concrete to create copings and cornices and the carved woodwork on eaves
and pillars are some of the elements that create the beauty of the street
architecture.
The rhythm of wooden pillars and concrete columns both create a syncopated
rhythm on the street facade. The columnar features are highlighted even if
they are enclosed by masonry, and this brings down the scale of mutli-
storeyed strucures into proportion with the people walking on th street.
The state of the structural elements is fairly well preserved in those buildings
that are still being used and might have undegone minor modifications.
Where substantial alterations have occured, the structural stability cannot yet
be measured. At many places the strucure has become completely hidden.
Where the supporting frameworks for the roof has been weakened by wear
and tear, a substantial restoration effort may required.
1.9. SOCIO-CULTURAL CHARACTER
The Jama Masjd Road precinct has become a predominantly Muslim
neighbourhood, although it is evident that in the past, the local community
was more diverse. The presence of different religious institutions bears
testimony to that. The level
of integration between the
memebers of the local
community will become
eivdent on closer
interaction.
The Jama Masjid in the
centre and the dargah’s on
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the western end of the street are active cetres of the community life, which
spills out on the street on occassion. The street itself does not seem to be a
disputed place, as every household maintains the limits of its territory. Apart
from the street itself, there is no other public space which serves all the
resindets, thus making the street space itself the most important component
of the heritage, requiring protection and elaborate management.
The larger numbers of front porches and verandahs at street level which have
been enclosed with wooden, masinry or metal facades is an indication of the
reducing vibrancy of community life on the street. Similarly, the regime of
suspicion and fear that marks public space in Indian cities is evident here, with
the residents rarely using the lower panels of the windows in their houses,
which would be efficient for ventilation but would expose the residents to
invasion of privacy.
The socio-cultural character of the neighbourhood will determine the
effectiveness of the Action Plan, and the most important step in the process is
to establish a dialogue and communication amongst the residents, between
the residents and the consultants, and between the residents and the KDMC.
1.10. A NOTE ON OWNERSHIP
The ownership pattern requires detailed information, however, it is evident
from initial meetings with some residents that there are a lot of properties
which are either unoccupied because their ownwers are residing elsewhre in
the country or abroad, are under long-time rentals, or are owned by multiple
families staking their claims to joint family property. While the local land
records may be used to show the registered owners, it will be important to get
a clear idea of the nature of tenency in the precinct.
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1.11. A NOTE ON PRESENT PRECINCT BOUNDARY
It has been mentioned in the Introduction that the Jama Masjid Road precimct
and its conservation will require a broader examination of its context within
the ‘congested area’ and along the riverfront. The present precinct boundary
is assuming a depth of one building from the street and is terminating in a
nebulous area on both ends. The terminations will have to be examined
carefully, as they require different aproaches.
The precinct boundary along the riverfront may require to be more expansive,
considering that it is part of the precinct’s natural context. The provisions of
the CRZ will also need to be exmained for their implications for the precinct,
especially with regard to the suggestion in the CDP (page 45) that the Ulhas
river should be used for navigation and public transport. This provision, if
appropriately combined with the provisions of the CRZ, could yield a
significant component of the Action Plan.
On the Dudh Naka end also there is a need to examine the actual
constitutents of the bazaar and the reglisiou and other places that are in close
proximity to the Dudh Naka.
Prima facie, the existing boundary seems inadequate for the properr
management of the precinct and will need modification.
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2.0 RECONNAISSANCE SURVEY & CONSULTATIONS
The USC team has visited Kalyan on a number of ocassions during the Inception phase.
The first encounter with the precinct was recorded through photographs and videos.
Some of the first impressions and the noticeable features are contained in the Annexure
5 (‘Site Plan and Images’).
USC has established contact with several officials of the KDMC and working towards
setting up further consultations with these and other officials who were unavailable
earlier. Further, USC has also conducted discussions with and received inputs from
functionaries of the MMR-HCS. A few local residents have also been consulted on an
informal basis during the field visits.
The following persons have been consulted till date:
KDMC officials:
o Mr. P. Kulkarni (E.E. – Water Supply & Sanitation)
o Mr. Pramod Upadhyaya (A.E. – Water Supply & Sanitation)
o Mr. Bhagwat (A.T.P. – Town Planning)
o Mr. Laad (Media & Communications)
MMR-HCS:
o Mr. Prasad Shetty
o Ms. Shreya Bhatia
Local Residents:
o Mr. Javed Jaune (Ex. Deputy Mayor)
o Mr. Faizan Maulvi
o Mr. Naophil Patel
The local rsidentes that have been consulted are a vital first step for the next stage of
work. USC expects to establish a citizen’s group that will assist the condition analysis and
the preparation of the Action Plan. This will be the most challenging task, as the
stakeholders are likely to encounter conflicts in terms of ownership, implementation of
the Plan and other aspects.
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3.0 DETAILED METHODOLOGY
The main structure of the methodology has been clearly defined by the MMR-HCS in the
TORs for the project. The main stages have been outlined in the appropriate sequence
as follows:
1. DETAILED CONDITION ASSESSMENT
2. EVALUATION OF SIGNIFICANCE
3. IDENTIFICATION OF ISSUES
4. PREPARATION OF ACTION PLAN
5. DRAFTING GUIDELINES
The Detaied Condition Assessment provides the foundation to the entire exercise,
whereby we shall undertake a detailed documentation of the precinct, as per the
presently defined boundary, and will explore the possible boundaries that would
strengthen the exercise. The docuemntation will be preceded by an intensive interaction
with the local community and the KDMC and other officials and stakehodlers. This will
help in establishing their ownership of the process and will create confidence for the
process being adopted and the purpose behind the Action Plan. Unless the community
finds a collective comfort in the process, the Action Plan will not have the required
support.
The Evaluation of Significance will evaluate the documented precinct from various
perspectives: architectural, historical, cultural, socio-political and demographic,
technological, environmental and economic. A recommended listing of properties
requriing different actions will be placed before the stakeholders. The community and
other stakeholders will decide on the desirable actions for each property and the larger
precinct as a whole. Detailed and empirically determined analysis will yield the strengths
and opportunities in the precinct, with spcial attention to the economic, cultural,
regulatory, institutional and environmental aspects of the process.
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The Identification of Issues on all aspects of the project will yield a list of actions that
are required for the conservation of the precinct. This will also involve the categorisation
of the issues as per the reqyired urgency and their priority within the Action Plan.
The Preparation of the Action Plan will take into account the findings of all the earlier
stages: detailed documentation, evaluation of significance and identification of issues.
The Action Plan will comrpise a number of components, including the following:
Vision and Strategies for conservation of Jama Masjid Road precinct
Broad actions that are required, including policy, regulations, projects and
programmes
Prioritisation and phasing of the projects and programmes
Block estimates for the projects and programmes including capital investment
required and O&M costs
Identification of financial sources for implementation of the projects and
programmes. This too will involve the local community, as they will be intimately
involved with the financial operating plan and can become stakeholders not only
in spirit but also in terms of income and expenditure.
Institutional mechanisms will have to be found for the appropriate and efficient
implementation of the Action Plan. These will be anticipatory and
recommendatory at first, and after dicsussion with the stkrholder, especially the
KDMC, they will be finalised.
A clear timeline will need to be established for the execution of the Action Plan,
with immediate focus on the actions required urgently and on top priority, within
the year 2011-12.
The final stage in the process will involve the Drafting of Heritage Guidelines which can
be incorporated into the GDCR (General Development Control Regulations) for the
KDMC area. The guidelines will derive from a number of aspects of the Action Plan, such
as the determining of land use, constraints on retrofitting and redevelopment,
responsibility for maintenance and repair, measures requiring sharing of ownership and
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responsibility, measures to ensure that the management of the precinct is aligned with
best practices and can esnure the full implemnetation of the Action Plan.
The drafting of guidelines will be facilitated by USC’s prior experience in the field,
whereby it has formulated the heritage policy and guidelines for the Surat Municipal
Corporation in Gujarat.
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4.0 NEXT STEPS
The next stage in the process of Preparation of Action Plan for conservation of Jama
Masjid Road Precinct involves a DETAILED CONDITION ASSESSMENT, comprising of a
detailed documentation of the precinct in consultation with the local community.
The Draft Detailed Condition Assessment (Output 1) is to be completed in 12 weeks.
The results of Stage 2 (Output 1) will define the existing condition of the precinct
and will determine the practical aspects of the project, thus:
o Detailed Base Map of the precinct, comprising overlays of
‘As-built’ drawings of present condition (created by USC team)
Property maps (obtained from KDMC)
Development Plan (obtained from KDMC)
Satellite imagery (obtained from public domain)
o Spatial nodes
street termination points
street junctions
public landmarks (religious institutions, graveyards, planned police station, open spaces, trees)
o Cultural practices
Jama Masjid Road as a public space: celebration, congregation, assembly
o Existing Infrastructure
roads and lanes
drains and underground services
overhead services (cables, lights)
o Demographics: listing of occupants of each property
o Transformations in the property
o Details of Land-use
conforming and non-conforming land use
planned land use
mixed land use
mapping of activities (type, duration, timings, persons involved)
o Details, elevations, axonometric views
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o Heritage characteristics
special architectural features
special buildings
special spatial nodes
The Draft Detailed Condition Assessment, to be submitted in the form of 12 hard copies
and 3 soft copies (CD-ROM), will present a comprehensive documentation of the
precinct and will lay the grounds for discussions about the policies, regulations,
management structures and financial models that can contribute to the preparation of
an Action Plan for Jama Masjid Road.
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5.0 REFERENCES
Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation, (2001), Draft Development Plan for Kalyan, under committee appointed by Government of Maharashtra, submitted U/S 30 of M.R. and T.P. act 1966
Udamale, Sanjay (2002-3), Conserving Urban Heritage of Kalyan, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Heritage Conservation Society and Kalyan Heritage Society, Dist. Thane, Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Maharashtra, India
Patil, Subhash & Associates, (2006), City Development Plan for Kalyan Dombivli, Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation submitted for implementation to Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), Dist. Thane, Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Maharashtra, India
National Institute of Urban Affairs, (2008), Appraisal of City Development Plan: Kalyan Dombivli, Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation and Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), Dist. Thane, Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Maharashtra, India
Chainani, Shyam (2006), Heritage Legislation and Conservation, Mumbai Reader, Urban Design Research Institute, Mumbai, India
http://www.kdmc.gov.in/: Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation website
http://www.mmrdamumbai.org/: Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority website