Figure 3.6: Satellite imagery showing example of parks

3.4 SELECTION OF CASE STUDY

1) Subhash Bridge Riverfront Park

2) Usmanpura Riverfront Park

WHY?

1) They are at the city center and the characteristics of both these sites are different. Formation of both the parks are on the either side of Sabarmati River. Also, they are newly created public spaces for the city of Ahmedabad, they have never been studied before.

2) Both these parks are made at different scales and have different importance at city level. Thus, the impact of both the park on the city of Ahmedabad will widely vary and this will produce a captivating outcome for the research

SELECTION CRITERIA

On the basis of the aim of study and selection of cases to analysis.

Fig 1.4: Selection criteria for POS Source: Author | 16042021

3.5 SITE STUDY: Finding Publicness &Accessibility

3.5.1 LOCATION OF SITES:

Both the sites are on the either side of Sabarmati River. Subhash Bridge Park is on the eastern side of river where Usmanpura Park is on the western side of river. Each site has been chosen purposefully to analyse the response of people on both the sides of the riverfront.

Figure 3.14: Map showing both the sites on the banksof Sabarmati River Source: Research Thesis 2016 3.5.2 LOCATION OF SITE BUFFERS:

Both sites are almost 2km apart, here you can see rings of 500m interval each.

Figure 3.15: Map showing buffers of 500m,1000m,1500mand 2000m respectively Source: Research thesis 2016

1. SHUBHASH BRIDGE RIVERFRONT PARK

Figure 3.16: Subhash Bridge Park plan. Source: Google earth | 24062021

• The Park is envisaged as an extension of Gandhiji’s Sabarmati Ashram, across the river, providing a serene and contemplative backdrop to the

Ashram and maximizing this vista. • Simultaneously, it will serve as a much-needed park for Shahibaug -

Dudheshwar neighbourhoods. • The Park has been designed to meet the needs of a diverse range of people. • It has been recently completed and is open to the public since October 2013. (SRFDCL) • Area - 6.19 Ha

Sabarmati River

Figure 3.17: Subhash Bridge Park plan. Source: HCP | 15032021

2. USMANPURARIVERFRONT PARK

Figure 3.18: Usmanpura Riverfront Park plan. Source: Google earth | 24062021

• The Park is one of the many public gardens created along the riverfront in this project. It will serve as a neighbourhood park and strengthen the green space network in the western part of the city. • The Park has been open to the public since October 2013. (SRFDCL) • Area - 1.8 Ha

Sabarmati River

Figure 3.19:Usmanpurariverfront park plan. Source: HCP | 15032021

3.5.3 CONTRIBUTION OF BOTH PARKS:

Cities change. Ahmedabad’s public spaces attune the dynamic of the city. They consume themselves and are reborn. From Manek Chowk to Municipal Market all of them are remade, repurposed, and are reborn. Fabric of public space is created out of the material provided by the past and is now part of thefuture. This includes its cultural, social, and economic fabric. Public spaces are formed, inhabited, acquire value, are appropriated, decline, and are recreated. Ahmedabad’s public space has the ability to change in this way. Usmanpura Riverfront Park and Subhash Bridge Park are newly built, in the hope to have the ability to be dynamic in nature. Usmanpura Park is around 1.8 Ha and is located on the western bank of the river. Whereas Subhash Bridge Park which is about 6.19 Ha is located on the eastern bank of the river. The Subhash Bridge Park gave an enormous push for the public spaces for citizens of easternAhmedabad. As the east zone of Ahmedabad has just around 17 ha of open spaces which includes all types of spaces.

3.5.4 DATA COLLECTION:

1) To investigate the accessibility of all, the publicness of space, and are these spaces are made for all. Various attributes and parameters were identified within the questionnaire and those parameters and attributes were included in the primary survey. Acomparative understanding was established with UN Habitats' idea of public space for all in order to achieve the research aim. 2) Secondary data/resources from varied sources such as a library, Archives, Internet, Books, and Journals, etc. are utilized in order to achieve the aim of the research.

Questionnaire (Primary Survey)

Figure 3.20: Process of making of questionnairefor the research Sketch: Author | 03052021

A questionnaire was prepared to interview stakeholders (students/ classmates/ seniors/ faculties/ friends/ family). A total of 13 responses were received, then due to pandemic it was not possible to conduct face to face interview so online interviews were conducted through google from (Annexure I, II, III). Total 57 responses were received. Doing analysis of various categories, and taking basic inputs of data from 2 various cases is included in this chapter. Generated data is being kept in a proper manner to discuss observations like male-female ratio, diversity in religion, mode of travel, frequency of visit, area of belonging, distribution of age, types of activities, alternative space to visit, notion regarding fee, different kind of activities, etc.

Figure 4.1:Map of SubhashBridge Riverfront Park and surroundings Source: Google Earth | 25062021

4.1 ABOUT SUBHASH BRIDGE PARK

Length: 1500m Width: Ranging from 30-60m Area: 6.19 Ha Opening: October 2013 Park Hours: 6:00am to 10:00pm (where 6:00 to 8:00am free access, 8-9am closed for cleaning purpose) Access: Paid 10/- ticket access Construction cost: 6 crores

The Park attracted many users from Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi to President of China Xi Jinping.

Where each person above 12 years of age has to pay rupees ten, children and senior citizens pay rupees five. Students who can bring a letter from their school, institution, colleges, and university can have access by paying rupees one. Physically challenged and children below five years of age have free entry. The rules and regulations in Subhash Bridge Park are similar to that of Usmanpura Park.

4.1.1 Entry rules and regulation

Category Ticket charges (Per person, in Rs.)

6.00 A.M. to 8.00 A.M. Free

Physically Handicap

Free Children (Below 5 years) Free School trip (Principle’s letter required) 01/Senior Citizen (Above 60 years) 05/Children between 5-12 years 05/Person above 12 years 10/-

• Entry fee will be applicable between 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM • Entry ticket will not be issued after 9:00 PM • Riverfront Park will be closed at 10:00 for visitors everyday • Riverfront Park will be closed at 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM for visitors • Riverfront Park will be closed on every Monday

Table 4.1.1 Entry fee distribution with category Source: Subhash bridge riverfront park ticket window rules and regulation. AMC & SRFDCL | 25062021

4.1.2 Male-Female Ratio

The radial chart below enumerates that in gender roles, graph of Subhash bridge park is tilting towards Male as they are dominating with 56.6% and female at 43.3%

Chart 2: Male-Female ratio Source: Graph generated from google form survey | 12052021

4.1.3 Diversity of Religion

Diversity in the case of Subhash Bridge Park is really skewed. The most dominant religious group coming to the park is Islam. Islam consists of 63% of the total population in the context of this park. Followed by Hinduism at 30%. Jainism (3%) and Christianity (4%) are similar to Usmanpura Park. The main purpose behind the development of Subhash Bridge Park was to give a serene and contemplative backdrop to the Gandhi ashram. As previously mentioned, Ahmedabad population in generic is split into two halves where Islamic population is living on the eastern edge and even both these park shows the same division where almost 60% of the population is dominated Hindu followers are predominantly living on the western edge of the city. by Hinduism followers in Usmanpura Park which is on the western bank of the river and on the other side, Subhash Bridge Park occupies 63% of Islam followers. This shows the disparity of religion among both parks.

Hindu 30%

3%

Islam 63%

4% Jainism

Christianity

Source: Graph generated from google form survey | 12052021

4.1.4 Mode of Travel

When we look into the mode of travel, for Subhash Bridge Park we see 45% of the trip takes place through 2-wheeler, followed by 4-wheeler at 27%, and walk and bus combined form a total of 28%. Two-wheelers have been the core to access the public in both cases. Especially the city of Ahmedabad has a special love for two-wheelers. On an average 200-300 2 wheelers per day and 80-100 4 wheelers per day can be seen as a mode of arrive to the park. (Source: Park’s ticket window)

Chart 3: Mode of travel Source: Graph generated from google form survey | 12052021

4.1.5 Frequency of Visit

To understand people’s views, we really need to understand their intensity in the park-like how often they visit? Only 1.9% of people were regular comers. 9.4% are those who visit once a week. When it comes to one a month the graph shows 47.2%.At last, 41.5%, people are visiting only once a year

Chart 4: Frequency of visit Source: Graph generated from google form survey | 12052021