Neighbourhood report I Pune I Urban Design Semester 7 I KRVIA

PUNE

PIMPLE NILAKH

URBAN DESIGN STUDIO : Neighbourhood study Kamla Raheja Vidhyanidhi Institute of Architecture

Contributors Gargee Date Raj Dhikle Shreshta Gopalakrishnan Avanti Jain Vaishnavi Shendage

Abstract The report traces the evolution of Pimple Nilakh, a rapidly developing neighbourhood in Pune. It studies the process of conversion of agrarian lands to formal societies and identifies the various factors that cause certain nodes within the urban fabric to develop faster than the others. By analysing this evolution, the report attempts to identify the causes and repercussions of unchecked development to holistically understand the impact it can have on a neighbourhood.

Framework The report starts off by looking at the evolution of the Pimpri Chichwad Municipal Corporation area that Pimple Nilakh is situated in to understand the larger factors at play within the neighbourhood. It then traces the evolution of Plimple Nilakh to the identify key factors affecting development over the years.

The later part of the report delves into each of these factors, using them as lenses to better understand the growth of the neighbourhood. The report concludes by consolidating these observations to form a rough framework that can better sustain the inevitable further development in and around Pimple Nilakh.

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INDEX INTRODUCTION

HISTORY - Timeline - Urban Sprawl maps

EVOLUTION - Development Pattern from 1992 to 2021

LENSES RIVER ECOLOGY - Hydrology - Comparative vegetation study - Mapping of avifauna - Relationship of the river and built edge ROLE OF BUILDERS IN DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

GAOTHAN TRANSFORMATION

- Developers influencing development in 2004, 2012 and 2021

- Mapping of the evolution of typology of the Gaonthan over the years

STREET ACTIVITY - Mapping the nature of street and street activities over the years STREETSCAPE FURNITURE - Spatial understanding of the streetscape with the fabric

AMENITIES - Amenities and their impact on the neighbourhood

CONCLUSION

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INTRODUCTION

INDIA

MAHARASHTRA

PIMPRI CHIN

PUNE DISTRICT

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Pimpri Chinchwad is a township that dates back several hundre of Pimpri Chinchwad was established in 1971, and it has experie then. The area is situated at an altitude of 590 metres above se Pune, and has a population of 1.7 million people.

It is a satellite city of Pune, and because of its proximity to Pu seen tremendous development alongside the Pune metropolis, w stantly increasing. The region is a hub for a diverse range of ind mation technology, and manufacturing.The Chinchwad MIDC, C IT Park, and Hinjewadi IT Park are also prominent urban centres the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, the neighbourhood has seen con

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NCHWAD

ed years. The Municipal Corporation enced increasing urbanisation since ea level, 15 kilometres northwest of

une’s educational hub, the area has with a corporate border that is conustries, including automotive, inforChikhali industrial region, Talewadi s in the vicinity. With the opening of nsiderable growth.

PIMPLE NILAKH On the outskirts of Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, Pimple Nilakh is a fast growing urban centre sharing the boundary with Pune City.The area is situated at an altitude of 570m above sea level with a population of 35 thousand residents.

The neighbourhood is a relatively new development, dating back to the early 2000s. Though historically, the area is an old gaothan with roots dating back hundreds of years. The area saw a surge in population as a result of its central location, which provided quick access to Pune city, Hinjewadi IT Park, and the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.The settlement has grown through time over a 3 kilometer stretch of the Mula River. The neighbourhood is a residential hotspot with ongoing infrastructure and amenity improvements.

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HISTORY To get a better understanding of the processes and working of Pimple Nilakh, its evolution through the past 20 years, the most volatile years of its growth, were studied and analysed. The history of Pune, as a whole, in the years leading upto the development of PCMC was also mapped out to better understand the factors that influenced the origin of the neighbourhood.

HISTORY

Large Industrial Development along roads,railways connecting Mumbai and Pune

MID 1950

AFTER PARTITION Refugee camps set by government known as PIMPRI CAMP

Formation of MIDC

Pimpri Chinchwad New Town Development Authority (PCNTDA) was established

1961-62

IN 1956 Formation of Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd. in Pimpri first drug manufacturer in India to undertake commercial production

Addition of 18 more villages

1997

1972

IN 1970 Villages of Pimpri, Chinchwad, Bhosari and Akurdi merged to form Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Council

Mumbai-Pun Expressway s

IN 1982 The Municipal Council was merged with seven surrounding villages to form the a new Municipal Corporation

IN 2002

1995-2000 Government claims to acquire Land under ULC Act for development and slum rehabilitation The farmlands were divided into 12 units and government was to acquire 8 units During the same period, developers offered farmers to buy surplus land

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The fabric majorly consists of gaothans and farmlands with one or two farmhouses of the owner

ne started

More and more developers start the construction of societies.

Connection to baner via the main DP road strengthened.

Construction of the STP and the Aundh- Baner bridge starts : More possibilities of connections to the neighboring areas

Construction of Bridge along the river at a higher level than the ghat id completed

IN 2012

IN 2006

UNTIL 2004 Farmlands owned by the Pimple Nilakh villagers with mostly sugarcane, soyabean produce.

The 4 units left which included just 12 individual farm owners

UNTIL 2008 BANER-AUNDH Bridge (Direct Connection to Pune) BANER STP started functioning The main linear north-south road for pimple nilakh is formed.

2021

UNTIL 2016 Public spaces such as chonde patil sports complex, football turfs ,etc along with public parks have been built

Developers start construction of cooperative societies along the linear road

Farmers sold lands to developers at cheap rates rather than giving up to government without any payments Pimple Nilakh, Pune

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HISTORY 1972

Pimpri Chinchwad New Town Development Authority (PCNTDA) was established

1971

Government claims to acquire Act for development and slum

1991

Pimpri and Chinchwad were the main villages in 1971 at the time of formation of the municipal corporation and hence considered as urban centers.

The clusters of high population densities were observed at the southern side due to occurrence of industrial zone and available public facilitieS along with close proximity to Pune city center.

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1995-2000

1982

The Municipal Council merged with 7 surrounding villages to form PCMC

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The Bhosari and Moshi areas were show to presence of a state highway (Pune-N Talawade saw rapid industrialisation which gave employment to farme

e Land under ULC m rehabilitation

2008

2015

Loss of agricultural land and rapid development due to migration

Pune becomes one of the cities to be developed as part of the Smart City Initiative

2011

wing high population density it was due Nashik) and growing industries in Chakan along with coming up of IT parks ers who lost their agriculture land.

A clear shift of urban areas from Pimpri Chinchwad central to Wakad, Talawade, Chikhali was observed here. The economic pull and infrastructural amenities (connectivity were attracting large population (internal and external) from urban to suburban localities it becomes major cause of shift for migrating population The Pimple Saudagar area saw rapid shift due to the growing Hinjewadi IT Park.

Reference: R.S Ranspice et al. “Appraising Spatio-Temporal Shifting of Urban Growth Center of Pimpri-Chinchwad Industrialized City” 2016

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EVOLUTION 1992

1

1992 Footfall

Higher class

Lower class

1. The Gaothan majorly occupied the southern edge with only one connecting road to the main AundhWakad Road.The gaothan was layered north -south caste wise with the upper caste people living in the north side.The north side majorly had sloping roof houses with shingles and southern side had temporary corrugated sheet houses.People from respective caste visited the river along their parts.

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2001

Bus Stop

Bus Stop

Farmland

1

2

1.Settlement grew near the Aundh-Wakad road due to proximity to Pune as well as Pimpri-Chinchwad 2. Military Colony came up in the Cantonment area due to the connecting road Rcc bungalows have started to grow in the gaothan.

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EVOLUTION 2004

1

3

2 1.Development at the northern node led to the construction of a temporary bridge, informally known as the Balewadi bridge 2.The middle portion sees the growth of bungalow colonies such as who remain the main developers of the area till date 3.Construction of Chandrakanth Raoji Jagtap Road increased the connectivity of the Gaothan and brought about the construction of larger RCC complexes in the northern portion of the Gaothan

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2008

1 2

3 The coming up of New DP Road brought connectivity in the area after which the middle portion saw coming up of buildings and high rises.

1.Due to this the area saw a transition from farmlands to residential zones.

2.The Aundh-Baner Bridge directly connected the two sides of PMC and PCMC.Baner STP was another important infrastructural project that started functioning.

3.The gaothan saw coming up of RCC bungalows as well as Park

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EVOLUTION 2012

1

2

1.Pimple Nilakh Baner Bridge Road Construction started near ghats and bridge 2.Development sought to connect the gaothan with the upper development and bridge connected it with the Pune city Newly added societies like Nisarg akash society, Water’s Edge, Neco SkyPark, Sahil Heights Society ,Construction of Kolte Patil 24K Glitterati

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2016

1 1. Major construction of high rise apartments completed (24k Atria,24K Glitterati,24k Opula by Kolte Patil, Midori Towers by Venkatesh Buildcon Pvt. ) The completion of these high risers has brought major infrastructural change in the neighbourhood including the completion of New DP Road and construction of Pimple Nilakh Baner Bridge road which has also led to the cutting off of direct access from the village to the ghats.

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EVOLUTION 2021

1

3

2

1.The bridge to Balewadi from the Kaspate vasti chowk being constructed. Direct connection to Hinjewadi IT Park causing more and more commercialization.

2. Chowks connecting to the main Aundh-Ravet road became hotspots for eatery stalls as well as commercial shops 3.Developers buying land from the gaothans of pimple nilkah and more commercialization towards the river edge towards the south.Pimple nilakh park and the PCMC park constructed along the river and connections of the green spaces via cycling tracks etc, seating spaces along the Main road, etc.

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2021 with Plot Boundaries and Current State of Development

The area has developed around the Main DP Road with the spine acting as the main activity zone.

The neighbourhood comprises of the old Gaonthan which is transforming due to the development in the north side.

The area is a amalgamation of bunglows, apartment buildings, small Socities as well as large residential complexes.

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INTRODUCTION TO THE LENSES

RIVER ECOLOGY

The lens explores the connection between human activities and development with the river and ecosystem as it grows along the length of the Mula River.

STREET ACTIVITY

In a residential area with a main spine road, this part attempts to understand the nature of activities with various types of commerical fabric along the streets as well as influx of activities occuring at nodes and junctions.

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STREETSCAPE FURNITURE

AMENITIES

The constant development process has led to advancement in the fabric of street infrastructure. The section attempts to understand this relationship of activities with the framework along with the schemes and policies of the Smart City Project and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.

Streetscape furniture and amenities Street Activity Role of builders and gaothan transformation Ecology

ROLE OF BUILDERS IN DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

GAOTHAN TRANSFORMATION

This section studies the impact of urban growth patterns on old gaothans such as Pimple Nilakh, as well as the involvement of developers in this neighbourhood transition.

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ECOLOGY A key factor attracting to the neighbourhood has always been the Mula River. Before the development, the water body allowed the farmlands around it to flourish, and thus was responsible for the few houses in the neighbourhood. Currently, developers are vying for a plot near the edge of the river to sell expensive river view flats. Over the years, the relationship of the river with the neighbourhood has transformed a lot .This evolution is explored in the following section.

ECOLOGY HYDROLOGY

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COMPARATIVE STUDY OF VEGETATION

1985

1986

2021 1985 report shows the presence of vegetation which indicated a good riverine ecosystem. There has been a steady decline of these species over the past few years.

Deterioration quality of aquatic vegetation: Dominance of generalist species and aggressive weeds like hyacinth and alternanthera.

Increased sighting of birds like Common Sandpiper, an indication of polluted water.

Reference: Nulkar, Gurudar et al. “Ecological Guidelines and Recommendations For Mula-Mutha Riverfront Development” 2018

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ECOLOGY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE RIVER AND THE BUILD EDGE

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2004

2012

2021

SECTION AA’ : THROUGH THE RESIDENTIAL EDGE

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ECOLOGY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE RIVER AND THE BUILD EDGE

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2006

2010

2021

SECTION BB’ : THROUGH THE GHATS

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ECOLOGY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE RIVER AND THE BUILD EDGE

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2004

2012

2021

SECTION CC’ : THROUGH THE SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT

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ROLE OF BUILDERS Developers have played a major role in making Pimple Nilakh what it is today. They have redefined the inter-personal relationship of people initiated better connective infrastructure and even changed the role that the river plays within the neighbourhood. This section identifies the key developers who have heavily influenced the neighbourhood to understand better the amount of power they hold in shaping the trajectories of the areas they construct in.

ROLE OF BUILDERS IN DEVELOPEMENT 2004

Matoshri Colony Datta colony

Amit Enterprises Builders

Sneh Construction Group

Nisarg Associates

3-4 STORY COLONIES 8 STOREY MULTI-USE BUILDINGS

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Yashavi Group

The middle portion saw the growth of bungalow colonies such as Datta Colony and Matoshri Colony, which were the very first beginnings of formally cordoned off settlements in the area. These were usually single story houses, placed close to each other.

Increased connectivity of the Gaonthan to the main Aundh Road brought about the construction of taller RCC complexes in the northern portion of the Gaonthan.

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ROLE OF BUILDERS IN DEVELOPEMENT 2012

Shriram Developers

Sneh Construction Group Pride Housing

Amit Enterprises Builders

Vasupujya Corporation Developers

Sagar Properties

NSG Group

Kolte Patil Developers

Vikram Developers

3-4 STORY COLONIES 8 STOREY MULTI-USE BUILDINGS MULTI-STOREY GATED SOCIETIES

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Nisarg Associates

R K Lunkad Housing Corpo

oration

Nandgude Patil Developers

By the year 2012, due to development of the main DP Road the area saw a transition from bunglows to apartments and buildings with 6-7 floors.

Small developers like Nisarg Associates started building apartment buildings which also lead to an influx of people near the main Aundh-Ravet road and towards the edge of road where there was a direct connection to the main road.People from the gaothan sold plots to such developers who in turn received flats within the apartments.

Many big developers like Kolte Patil, Sagar Properties and R.K Lunkad started building residencial complexes with all the amenities inside the complex.

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ROLE OF BUILDERS IN DEVELOPEMENT 2021

3-4 STORY COLONIES 8 STOREY MULTI-USE BUILDINGS MULTI-STOREY GATED SOCIETIES

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During 1995-2002, big developer groups had bought surplus plots from the villagers which are now being developed to large residential complexes and commercial centers. The area is developing at a rapid pace due to multiple such housing schemes and its connectivity to Hinjewadi IT Park and Pune city.

The developers are offering different schemes such as buildings with only 4BHK and 5BHK in order to attract higher income groups.

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TRANSFORMATION OF THE GAOTHAN The role of developers has extended into the Gaothan situated at the southern tip of the neighbourhood. The evolution has been more visible in this portion because of the drastic change in typology. It started with a vernacular housing style, typical of gaothans and is now full of mid-rises capitalising on the desirability of the node.

This section identifies the key area that got developed under the influence of the improvement of infrastructure to understand the evolution of the Gaothan and how it ties in with the rest of the neighbourhood.

GAOTHAN TRANSFORMATION

The construction of the main DP road brought a lot of attention to the southern part of the Gaothan. Better connectivitiy meant an oppurtunity for development and many of those living in the Gaothan were willing to sell. The connection to the area to through the Ambedkar bridge only heightened the desirability of this particular plot of land. Over the last 20 years, its beein the site of a momentous amount of change from the tradtional Gaothan typology of houses with courtyards and sloping roofs to really tall residential complexes with a completely different relationship to the street outside.

Sections showing nature of inner lanes of the gaothan

Section AA’

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Section BB’

2004

Sloping Roof Houses Single Storey Houses RCC Bunglows 4-5 Storey Building

The houses openend up on the main road as well as interior passages

Majority of activities took place on the streets.

Passages Road

Before land got sold to developers was mainly populated by single storey houses with sloping roofs. These had a very soft border to the street. Each house stepped down to a elevated platform used for playing, etc. which then sloped into the main street.

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GAOTHAN TRANSFORMATION 2012

Sloping Roof Houses Single Storey Houses RCC Bunglows 4-5 Storey Building 8-10 Storey Building

Co-operative Societies started coming up with defined boundaries

Bunglows have verandah that spill onto the roads.

Road

Hotspots for interaction between the households

Narrow Passages

Beginning of construction by developers in this part was through closely spaced co-operative societies. The relationship to the street got harder with a defined boundary wall but since the ground level was mostly shops, the edges blurred a little bit.

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2021

Sloping Roof Houses Single Storey Houses RCC Bunglows 4-5 Storey Building 8-10 Storey Building

Due to development in the area, there has been a shift to residential complexes

The current prevalent housing is a series of tall buildings, usually overlooking the river. These not only have a high boundary wall to block views of activities at the’podium’ level but also have a very strict policy of entrance. Since most of the amenities and social spaces are housed within these walls, the relationship to the neighbourhood outside is cut off.

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STREET ACTIVITIES The construction of the main DP Road has led to a rapid spurt in development in a very small period of time.

This influx has led to a continuous change in the experience alongthe street. Thus, the nature of the street has been explored through the mapping of activities at important nodes and junctions that are, and have been, vital in activating the neighbourhood.

STREET ACTIVITY YEAR 2004

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STREET ACTIVITY YEAR 2012

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STREET ACTIVITY YEAR 2021

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Presently, in the year 2021, the development of roads under the smart city program and the Harit Setu Abhiyan begins. Cycling and pedestrian tracks get developed. Hawkers zone and farmers markets come up along the footpaths. The completion of the road and the development along it leads to the street becoming a mix of a market street and a high street, with plazas and malls in certain stretches, and street vendors and hawkers in other.

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STREET TRANSCEPTS THROUGH THE RIVER A’

A

B

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B’

The section talks about the connection of the river edge to the city. It has a bridge that connects the land across. People use the river edge mainly during the evenings.

The transept further shows the current road conditions.

SECTION AA’

This section depicts the relationship of the gaothan with the river.

SECTION BB’

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JOURNEY THROUGH THE STREETS A’ A

B’ B

SECTION AA’

C’

Busy street with hawkers and street markets C

D’ D

SECTION BB’

Footpaths used well by pedestrians

SECTION CC’ Road spilling out to the plaza and shops

SECTION DD’ Hawker vehicles spilling onto the road

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Smaller silent roads

SECTION EE’

’

SECTION FF’

E’ E

F

F’

Informal shops and fabrication sheds

G G’

SECTION GG’ Amenities like smart city gardens built along the street

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STREETSCAPE FURNITURE Considering the nature of the main street, certain spaces become extremely crowded and most of these pedestrian and cycling tracks get occupied as parking spaces for vehicles. This lens explores these junctions and analyses the reasons behind their nature to get a better understanding of the connectivity within the neighbourhood.

STREETSCAPE FURNITURE

Proposed bus corridor by PCMC

Construction in vicinity Large roads split into smaller ones

Roads and junctions of Pimple Nilakh with cycling tracks and footpaths

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Food stalls extending upto the footpath

A big portion of footpaths and cycling tracks used for parking of vehicles

Pedestrian paths utilised along footpaths

Informal shops that occupy the footpath

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AMENITIES

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CURRENT SCHEMES Making a conscious effort towards promoting sustainable development and wise use of natural resources, PCMC has adopted the GRIHA rating system for green buildings in India.

The Social Impact Bond signed along with the United Nations Development Program brought about bus corridors and Stops, Metro Lines and Junctions along with Cycling and Pedestrian tracks.

The corpotation aims to improve the state of the Mula-Mutha riverfront by evamping the entire 44 km stretch by building embankments, curbing seage works pollution and creating a public realm along the river The Harit Setu Abhiyan initiative plans to connect the blue and the green corridors of the city via these amenities. The interdependence of these strategies with individuals and their living has bought and will bring immense development through a span of 20 years .

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CONCLUSION Pimple Nilakh being the connecting path between Pune City and Pimpri Chichwad City has developed immesely in a span of 20 years. The neighbourhood has experienced a real estate boom as a result of its proximity to the Mumbai-Pune Highway and connectivity to the Hinjewadi IT Hub. Multi Storey Apartments and Residential Plots have been built by small developers, on the pre existing agricultural land also affecting the fabric of the Gaothan.

The inflow of inhabitants to the neighbourhood has resulted in rapid development of infrastructure and amenities, resulting in deficits in particular areas such as the Sewage Treatment Plant, access to the river edge, and so on.

Through our Analysis, we can clearly understand the effect of the river and its edge to the development of the space including the main DP Road Layed parallel to the river along with majority of the multi-storey residential towers situated closer to the river for better views.

Future propositions by the Municipality has helped in the revieval the agricultural and ecological loss of the neighborhood along with improved services with a connect between the blue and the green.

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OPPORTUNITIES Revival of Ecology in the Neighbourhood and the River edge.

A riparian vegetation buffer strip can safeguard water quality by lowering the effects of diffuse pollution as well as the risk of flooding. It will also help to Slow down the surface run off and strong flow of the river after heavy rains. Rejenuvation of the lost Flora and Fauna will also be catered to by the same.

As analysed, Majority of the river edge is left untreated and barren, while the rest is inaccesible due to the developement of Gated Societies along the river front. Accesibility and Better utillization of the river edge for public recreation can help to activate the space.

Symbiotic nodes of connection between the gaothan and the developed gated societies can be created, by incoporating interdependency in terms of social, cultural as well as economic connectivity.

Improving the system of drainage and sewage treatment by a well functioning STP and community initiatives such as composting and waste management to create awareness amongst the inhabitants.

Scope for commercial development with a mixed typology of markets, vendors and high streets. Hawkers and vendors can be provided spaces in the neighbourhood to function well instead of encroaching on footpaths and other spaces.

Rejenuvation of agricultural practises in the neighbourhood and awareness about the same. Urban farming at community level and Systems such as Community Supported Agriculture could be taken up.

Proliferation of public ammenities and recreation zones. Community Gathering Spaces, Common Workspaces, Libraries, etc can be provided.

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