Urban Design Portfolio_Professional Work by Akshan Bhide

POR TFO LIO Akshan Bhide Urban Design Portfolio Professional Work

I’m a 27 year old student, graduated in Architecture from Madhav Institute of Technology and Science, Gwalior and currently pursuing Masters in Urban Design from CEPT University, Ahmedabad. I accumulated more experience in my field of interest in Centre for Green Mobility; non-profit, non-government technical advocacy organization where I later worked as an associate due to my hard work and sincere devotion. I was responsible for assisting the team with design and planning projects. I helped in creating conceptual plans, detailed drawings, visualization, presentations, documents, reports related to urban design and development projects along with some administrative work for the organization. Learning from the courses and experiences have enhanced my solution-oriented tactics and communication skills and I’ve realised the needs in Urban Design in making our cities vibrant, safe place for public.

CONTENTS

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TRANSFORMATION OF DWARKA METRO CORRIDOR, Streetscaping along Metro Viaduct YEAR: 2016, Professional Project Dwarka, New Delhi, India PAHARGANJ CROSSING IMPROVEMENT, Improving Road Safety through Tactical Urbanism YEAR: 2016, Professional Project New Delhi, India REFURBISHMENT OF NEHRU PLACE DISTRICT CENTRE, Design of Public Space YEAR: 2018, Professional Project New Delhi, India SRINAGAR WATER TRANSPORT & DECONGESTION STRATEGIES, Urban Design Initiatives YEAR: 2018, Professional Project Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, India

TRANSFORMATION OF DWARKA METRO Streetscaping along Metro Viaduct

LOCATION: TYPE: YEAR: CLIENT: ROLE:

DWARKA, NEW DELHI, INDIA URBAN DESIGN 2016 DELHI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY DESIGN AND PLANNING

Reasons leading to conceptualization of this project were: 1. Streets are sterile and deserted/ very unsafe at night. No public night activities in entire Dwarka. 2. No existing entertainment facilities (cinemas, malls, street-markets, active sports facilities , cycling/ jogging tracks, etc.), higher hierarchy & and high-end commercial is non-existent and Thus the vision of the project was CREATE VALUE FOR LANDS - providing civic & social function - creating new employment centres & mixed-use districts The two drivers of Development in Dwarka – a. Linking Greens forming City Parks & socio-cultural spine. b. High density HUB exploiting TOD potential

DESIGN ELEMENTS DETAIL

The envisioned character image along the Dwarka Metro station with a dedicated cycle track, cycle rickshaw parking and public seating aloing active vending zone.

PAHARGANJ CROSSING IMPROVEMENT Improving Road Safety through Tactical Urbanism

LOCATION: TYPE: YEAR: CLIENT: ROLE:

PAHARGANJ, NEW DELHI, INDIA URBAN DESIGN 2016 DELHI TRAFFIC POLICE DESIGN AND PLANNING

The idea of the project is to address the issue of pedestrian safety and signal optimization to reduce delay at the intersections jointly with Traffic Police. The idea is to cross fertilize the traffic police in geometric design improvements to aid traffic management and the municipal engineers & planners in traffic management challenges faced at intersections.

EXISTING ISSUES

Parking of IPT on the road

Encroachment of footpath by private vehicles

Heay traffic blocking the roads for safe peddestrian crossing

Various activities were involved during this program as below: 1. Identifying major junctions 2. Redesigning of more than thirty junctions 3. Pilot implementation of new design to demonstrate the benefits 4. Sensitized traffic police official towards aspects of three aspects of management i.e. design, enforcement and behavior

Reduced turning speed with proper curvature 13

VEHICLE CIRCULATION AND PARKING STRATEGY

Existing Crossing Plan

Proposed Crossing Plan

Existing crossing scenario is very hafazard with long queue lengths with all the public spaces like pedestrian pathways taken over by encroached parking threthening the pedestrian safety.

The proposed crossing interventions focuses on pedestrian safety and increase in peddestrian realm. The proposal is to increase the footpath widths and streamlining the carriageway.

PUBLIC SPACES AND AMENITIES

Proposed Signal Cycle Plan

The existing signal cycle of the crossing is more than 300 seconds making it longer for traffic dispersal making it inconvinient for pedestrians to walk as well as cross the junction.

The proposed signal cycle is reduced by 44% bringing it down to 165 seconds for quick traffic dispersal.

Existing Situation

After Tactical Urbanism

Existing crossing scenario is very hafazard with long queue lengths with all the public spaces like pedestrian pathways taken over by encroached parking threthening the pedestrian safety.

The proposed crossing interventions focuses on pedestrian safety and increase in peddestrian realm. The proposal is to increase the footpath widths and streamlining the carriageway.

The proposed intervention focuses on safe pedestrian crossing with speed reduction during turning of vehicles and overall reduction in signal timing. 17

REFURBISHMENT OF NEHRU PLACE DISTRICT CENTRE Design of Public Place

LOCATION: TYPE: YEAR: CLIENT: ROLE:

NEHRU PLACE, NEW DELHI, INDIA URBAN DESIGN 2016 DELHI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY DESIGN AND PLANNING

Proposal for refurbishment of district centre is taken up for overall improvement with 1. ACCESS & IMAGE 2. PUBLIC SPACE & AMMENITIES 3. PARK & WALK facilities with all walkways shaded with trees and tensile-structures as one of the major improvements. Basic amenities such as Toilets, Universal Access, Lighting(Safety) and Hawker Management are proposed as other general improvements.

PHASE 2 • Buildings oriented to maximize views towards Lotus Temple & Ashtha Kunj • Parking to be within sites

PHASE 1 • Entries connected to central plaza - by walkways & shaded plazas/ ramps/ skywalks • Spatial improvements for Imageability 21

VEHICLE CIRCULATION AND PARKING STRATEGY

Existing Parking Plan

Proposed Parking Plan

Existing parking scenario is very hafazard with insufficient street network for traffic dispersal with all the open spaces taken over by parking.

Enhancement of existing or new networks for efficient traffic dispersal with parking consolidated in MLCPs at fewer locations. The areas released is used fro more green open spaces for better imageability. At grade parking MLCP & Puzzle parking On-street Parking = 190 Area = 15543 sqm Area = 13244 sqm Parking = 436 ECS Parking = 2533 ECS

Phase 1 (Existing Condition): Area = 75985 sqm Parking = 3675 ECS 22

Phase 2 (According to Layout Plan): Area = 74581 sqm Parking = 3920 ECS

PUBLIC SPACES AND AMENITIES

Proposed Pedestrian and Shading Plan

Proposed Pedestrian and Lighting Plan

Existing scenario of Nehru Place district centre Pedestrian interface/ entrance is not defined universal access as per Disability Act is not provided, pedestrian links pass through desolate spaces, pedestrian movement from Metro station, bus stops are not clearly delineated as well as climatic protection for any of the pedestrian areas does not exist.

Proposed interventions include all pedestrian areas shaded by deciduous tree-cover or tensile shading structures and areas near bus stops & Metro exits to be brightly lit at evenings/ night, as per codes. A Facility Manager of international repute needs to be engaged, who would manage the amenities created in Nehru Place as against a fixedfee from govt agency or cross-subsidy mechanism. 23

PUBLIC PLAZA PLAN

Areas retrieved from unorganised parking have been converted to green areas/ parks/ Open Air theatres, shaded plazas, etc., which are well-shaded with deciduous trees for use by general public. Well defined movement and congregation areas have been provided for pedestrians as well as vehicles, in the circulation plan. Separate hawkers and toilet facilities are provided. All areas are universally accessible. 24

Limiting vehicular links & rationalizing parking in multi level lots releases space for pedestrians & activities. Treat transit stations as pedestrian access points to Nehru Place, create vehicle free public spaces thus creating wide barrier free pedestrian links to external edges with integrated hawker spaces. Providing ramps at all public spaces separated by stepsand strategically locate functions to generate activity & create new active links in desolate areas.

The envisioned character image of the public plaza along active retail edge with tensile shading and universal accessible design to create vibrancy and safe environment.

SRINAGAR WATER TRANSPORT & DECONGESTION STRATEGIES Urban Design Initiatives

LOCATION: TYPE: YEAR: CLIENT: ROLE:

SRINAGAR, JAMMU & KASHMIR, INDIA URBAN DESIGN & PLANNING 2016 OFFICE OF TRAFFIC ADVISOR DESIGN AND PLANNING

In order to resolve congestion in the city and provide alternate means to travel across the city water transport network was planned. The project started with reserch on historical water networks and successful case studies across the world followed by conceptualization, route design, phasing, and selection of boats with its feasibility and fuel consuption. Further detailed drawings of individual ghat designs and route, fare and timecharts were also prepared. This also included road improvement plan, pre feasibility study for proposal of five bridges on river Jhelum to decongest downtown, an integrated public transport plan with route rationalization and last mile connectivity for the city. In order to streamline the existing traffic several new roads were proposed and existing roads were proposed to be redesigned with few being widening projects. Road alignment plan and designs are proposed for Boulevard and Foreshore Road along Dal Lake, and other roads in the city. Street sections with emphasis on equitable distribution of road space along with planning for NMT, pedestrian movement and designing of all potential open spaces surrounding it are proposed. 28

The envisioned character image of ghat design along Hazratbal Dargah with promenade along Dal Lake, proper decks and parking area for boats.

INTEGRATED PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM WITH PROPOSED URBAN DESIGN PROJECTS FOR DECONGESTION Phase 1 Projects

Phase 2 Projects

Existing Condition 32

The envisioned character image of the water transport system along the historic water routes of the city revived to decongest the Srinagar city. 33

CONTACT AKSHAN BHIDE akshan.bhide@gmail.com